FYSA Coaching Manual

Transcription

FYSA Coaching Manual
Contents
1. Organization of Soccer in United States and Florida
8. Risk Management
2. US Soccer and FYSA Player Development
9. Coaching Education
3. Role of the Coach
10. Olympic Development Program
4. Age Group Specifics
11. Sample Training Sessions
5. Issues to Consider in Youth Soccer
12. Effective Playing Time
6. Club Development
13. Resources
7. Team Management
P
Overview
layer development should be the main goal for
the youth soccer programs in the state of Florida.
To that end coaches, players, parents and administrators need to keep this in mind in decisions that are
made at the team, club, league and state level.
This manual is meant to be a resource book for
coaches and administrators. We will start off with the
organization of soccer in our country, region, and state.
As the main emphasis of the manual is player development we have included several documents from FYSA
and US Soccer in regards to the individual player age
group goals, specifics of age group training, the role of
the coach, and various developmental issues to consider
with youth players. Team and risk management will be
covered as well as coaching ethics, parent management,
and risk management. Club development is crucial to
player development in Florida. It is the clubs who see
the players on a day to day basis and can effect the
most change. We have provided some ideas such as
academy play to provide ideas for potential improvement. The Olympic Development Program and our
Coaching Education Program are run through our state
office. Information in regards to these two programs is
included. Finally we have included resources to allow
the reader to explore for more information that may be
helpful to their programs.
We decided to make this more a book coaches could
go to as a resource as opposed to a “how to” manual
with activities. There are many other publications and
areas you can look at for that material. A resource section is provided at the end of the manual with links to
find information. We hope this manual will lead you in
the right direction for many of the questions we receive
here at the state office
Florida Youth Soccer Association
2828 Lake Myrtle Park Rd.
Auburndale, FL 33823
Phone: 863-268-8220 • Fax: 863-268-8221
info@fysa.com • www.fysa.com
Office Hourse: M-F 8:30a - 5p
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FYSA COACHES HANDBOOK 2012 - 2013
Organization of Youth Soccer
FIFA
Federation Internationale de Football Association, world governing body of soccer
CONCACAF
Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association,
region of world soccer in which the United States participates
www.concacaf.com
www
USSF
United States Soccer Federation, national governing body of soccer
www.ussoccer.com
US Youth Soccer
Region III
com
United States Youth Soccer, governing body of youth soccer
for U.S. State Associations
www.usyouthssoccer.org
Region III includes eleven other state associations within the southern part of the country
www.usysregion3.org
FYSA
Florida Youth Soccer Association, state governing body of soccer
www.fysa.com
FYSA Organization Chart
FYSA
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
REGION A VP
REGION B VP
REGION C VP
REGION D VP
District Commissioner
A1-A5
B1-B5
C1-C6
D1-D4
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FYSA Player Development
P
layer development should be the main focus of our administration, leagues, and clubs and teams. Training and games should
be appropriate for the age level they are intended for. The goal
here is to develop players so that as the progress to the next level
of the game and they are ready and prepared. The two levels that we deal
with in Florida Youth Soccer are players at the youth (U6-U12) and junior
(U14-U19) levels.
The youth level is where we need to realize that the game the players
play is not the “adult game”. Age appropriate training is crucial at the age
groups to match the activities to their abilities, needs and individual characteristics. The game must be enjoyable for the players in order to keep their
enthusiasm high so they continue to the junior level. The activities need to
be fun but there also needs to be a purpose. U6 and U8 player emphasis
needs to be on individual skills and comfort with the ball. The play for these
players is limited to the area immediately around the ball. The concept
of transition where if we have the ball everybody is on attack and when
we lose the ball everybody is on defense is more important than stressing
positional play. U10 players now begin to expand the game but not to the
“adult” level. They do at this time begin to use their fellow players a bit
more. The transitional concept matures in players where they may begin
to decide who goes into attack and who stays or vice versa. This is also the
time at which the passion for the game begins to emerge. The U12 game
is called the “age of tactical awareness”. This is the transitional years from
youth level soccer to the junior level which tends to begin to mimic the
“adult game”.
The junior level the ball skills should be refined, they should begin to
development an insight to the game and an overall passion for the game.
Player development should occur through a systematic approach. There is
a priority structure in what should be covered in training players of these
ages (see US Soccer training priorities). Team success should be a result of
this systematic approach as opposed to building teams to win games.
Training sessions for both levels should include activities that get to the
game as opposed to fundamentals drills that do not have the pressures
of the game. These activities should be appropriate for the age group. A
player learns a concept better if they experience it and therefore make the
proper decision on their own as opposed to being told when and what to
do. The concept of identifying the positive and praising is a much better
approach than focusing on the negative and punishing. Each player needs
to be challenged by an activity but should not be taken to the point of
frustration. An activity that is either too easy or too hard does not benefit
the players in their development.
Competition is inherent in the game of soccer. The basic concept of if I
have the ball I want to get it past you to score a goal. Player development
occurs through playing games. As a coach are we playing for a result or
do we play the game for the development of players. The players should
be on the field each time playing to their highest ability. It is our job as a
coach to develop players. To this end we must put players in different roles,
try different systems, and different approaches and be willing to stick to
those changes so the player can develop. Playing for a result all of the time
can hinder a player’s development. As a player we always play for a result
but as a coach we sometimes coach for the better good down the road. In
terms of looking for competitions and games we should look for quality of
game versus quantity of game. Too often we think we need to play more
games to get better. This way of thinking tends to do two things reduces
the amount of training and causes burnout both of which are detrimental to
a players development.
Every decision made at the administrative, league or club decision should
be made in terms of how does it affect the development of the player?
Claudio Reyna is the US Soccer
Technical Director-Youth
1. Development over winning.
“Our players are naturally competitive,” Reyna said. “We don’t need
to ramp that up anymore. The whistle blows, our kids want to win. That’s
one of our strengths and we’re proud of it. But if we’re manipulating and
thinking winning-over-development, we’re making a huge mistake. We’re
short-cutting the development of players. ...
“Our aim is to produce skillful, creative, confident players.”
Reyna, who made several references to Barcelona’s famed youth program, quoted star playmaker Xavi: “Some youth academies worry about
winning. We worry about education.”
2. Quality Training.
“Make every session a quality session, come prepared, don’t waste time,”
Reyna said. “Keep players focused and active. … If you have 12 one-hour
sessions in a month, and you waste 10 minutes each session, you can waste
two sessions in a month.”
3. Age appropriate.
“Providing players with too much too soon leads to confusion and hurts
development,” he said. “We don’t need coaches teaching 8-year-olds zonal
defending or an offside trap, just like we don’t teach a second-grader calculus. Kids learn rapidly, but at different stages in their lives.”
4. Have fun and inspire your players.
“If we make it fun, we’re going to inspire them. Soccer is a great, fun
game,” said Reyna. “Let’s make sure we create an environment so that our
players want to come back to our training sessions and be part of the fun.”
Player Development in the United
States: Maintaining A Perspective
By: Manfred Schellscheidt, Ken Lolla, John Ellinger, George
Gelnovatch, Thomas Rongen, Glenn Myernick and Bruce Arena
- U. S. Soccer National Coaching Staff
U.S. Soccer believes that first and foremost youth soccer is a sport that
players should experience and enjoy as a game with a focus on individual
experimentation and development. U.S. Soccer encourages creating soccer
environments that will help promote the players’ lifelong love of the sport. These
environments should allow for the creativity, spontaneity and experimentation
that the game of soccer naturally encourages. Too often, children are put into
situations where development is secondary and winning is a priority, which
leads to burnout and stifles individual skill development.
We believe that a player’s development is enhanced when the short-term
goals of a coach are pursued within the perspective of the player’s long-term
needs. The following is a two-part commentary on the importance of (1) Having
continuity and perspective in player development, and (2) Allowing children to
experience soccer as it makes sense for their age and level of soccer maturity.
Part one addresses the theoretical stages of player development and how each
successive step is built upon the foundations established in the previous stage.
In the second part, the current Men’s National Team coaching staff comments
on the charge of their specific age group, and how it fits into the overall United
States Men’s National Team program of development and success.
The development of a player spans three general stages:
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FYSA Player Development
(1) Youth level – Zone 1 (ages 6-12)
(2) Junior level – Zone 2 (ages 13-17)
(3) Senior level – Zone 3 (ages 18 and older)
A player’s chances of success at the Senior level are greatly enhanced
by mastering the building blocks of soccer that are best addressed at the
Youth and Junior levels.
At the Youth level, ball skills, enjoyment of and experimentation within
the game are key for a player’s development.
At the Junior level, ball skills, enjoyment and insight into the game, with
a gradual introduction to fitness, mental toughness and results. At this
point, any success in winning matches should begin to be the product of
a consistent and systematic approach to the game that focuses more on
player development than on team-building. (The theory being that individually competent soccer players that are placed together on a team are more
prepared to win than well-organized players who are unable to stand alone
on their soccer abilities).
At the Senior level, players need to use all these qualities together, along
with a commitment to excellence, in order to figure out how to win. If a
player skips a step at the Youth or Junior levels, he will find success and
enjoyment more difficult as he moves toward the senior level.
At the Youth and Junior levels, there are several points to address when
discussing how to achieve these goals:
(1) The game is the best teacher - let the kids learn from it by setting up opportunities for them to play
(2) Allow kids to learn in environments that are sensitive to age and abilities
(emotional and athletic) and that offer a variety of experiences.
(3) Age and ability competition is a central element in a player’s development.
(4) At the youth level, a competitive environment is not a result-oriented environment. The differences must be clear. A competitive environment at the youth
level encourages decisions from player and coach alike that focus on performance rather than results. (Favoring ball skill and inventiveness as the means
to find success within the rules and spirit of the game)
(5) At the junior level, technical skill and attacking soccer are still important
themes, but now there is a greater focus on developing players’ insight into the
game by emphasizing the role of the game itself as a forum for learning. (Still
focusing on the performance, rather than the result)
(6) At the youth and junior levels, matches are important as a means to player
development (enjoyment, ball skill, insight, fitness), not as the aim. The usefulness of the game, in this respect, can occur in many different forms, from the
4v4 to the full-sided match model. Even at the Senior level, the game still offers
opportunities for growth — only the weight of balance between factors such as
enjoyment, ball skill, insight, fitness and results shift more toward the latter.
A General Description of the
Developmental Stages of a Youth
Soccer Player in the United States
Youth Level – Zone 1
At the early levels of youth soccer...
“Kids are just getting to know the game; they’re exploring, checking
things out, feeling their way into the game. They may wave to you in the
middle of the game or spin around, with their arms out, at midfield because
of some sudden, mysterious inspiration. They want to run, to chase, to kick
to be with their friends — and to follow the ball wherever it goes (and who
can blame them!) During these years the kids should touch the ball as much
as possible, learn physical balance, learn to guide the ball with both feet,
and start kicking with some accuracy. When they play games, they should
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absolutely be left alone: the field should be their world, on the child’s terms.
These years should be about FREE PLAY with the world’s favorite toy (the
ball) and about falling in love with the game.”
- Mass. Youth Soccer Association
At the latter stages of the Youth level (ages 8 to 12) the goal is to provide
training and game environments that promote the continued growth of ball
skill, an increasing game awareness and an appreciation for taking calculated risks in the attack through the 3v3 to 8v8 game model. The smallsided game model is an effective method for developing ball skill and game
awareness because it increases opportunities for players to have contact
with the ball and to both attack and defend without the tactical regimentation that can occur in 11v11 soccer.
Games are a forum for players to test their ball skills and game awareness,
and should be considered an additional means of development, rather than
the objective. Results become important as they give the players a competitive focus in the match. Coaches are encouraged to promote soccer that:
(1) Is free flowing,
(2) Is coach-guided, not coach-directed,
(3) Demands that all players on the field — regardless of their specified
position — participate in defending and attacking.
Junior Level – Zone 2
As the players graduate to the junior level, they should be comfortable
with the ball and have an insight into the game that will allow them to deal
with the increasing pace of the game (both in athletic speed and speed of
decisions). The goal at this point in a player’s development is to begin expanding his understanding of the game as much as his technical and game
maturity will allow. Again, this is accomplished through the small-sided
game model for practice (up through 9 v. 9 games) and the full-sided game
for matches. The graduation to the full-sided game model should be a logical and subtle step. The ideas and principles that apply to the smaller game
models continue to apply to the bigger game. The outcome of the game is
still largely determined by ball skill and game insight.
Senior Level – Zone 3
If a player has been exposed to a program that is able to address his/
her needs and abilities over the long-term, this player should be prepared
for this next stage of the game. At this point, winning is the purpose of
the game. The emphasis is therefore to have players pull together all the
components of their game in order to be as competitive as possible (both
as an individual player and as part of a team) and get a positive result in
individual matches. If their ball skills are insufficient, or they lack basic concepts of team play, they will struggle to have a positive impact on the game.
Ill-prepared players will have difficulty continuing their soccer careers at the
higher levels. At the Senior Level, the performance should determine the
result. While there is still a measurable focus on development, the emphasis
is now more on insight and team concepts, rather than individual development of ball skills.
Ideas and Role of Coach
Excerpts from: Best Practices for Coaching Soccer in the United States
By U S Soccer national coaching staff
T
here is not just “one way” to teach soccer to players, nor is
there just one style of coaching. There is a broad spectrum of
styles and methods for how each of us experiences the game.
Some of this comes from our backgrounds, while some of this
also is the product of our own personalities. At the youth and junior
levels, however, there is a set of fundamental principles that must be
considered by anyone involved with soccer. In general, young soccer
players require a certain amount of uninterrupted play. This allows
them to experience soccer first hand. They should be allowed the opportunity to experiment, and with that, succeed and fail.
The coach’s long term goal is to prepare the player to successfully recognize and solve the challenges of the game on his or her own. It is vital that
the coach approaches soccer with this in mind.
Basic Ideas to Consider When
Coaching Youth Soccer
The most fundamental skill in soccer is individual mastery of the ball and
the creativity that comes with it. This should be a priority in training and
games, especially in the early years. As this skill is mastered, the rest of the
game becomes easier - both to teach and to learn. Practices should be built
around facilitating the development of the skills necessary to move and control the ball well. As these individual skills and the creativity to make them
come alive in the game are developed to a level of competence, the finer
points, first of passing skill and later of team organization can be taught.
The town and club coaches who work with our youth and junior players on a daily basis play a fundamental role in the development of soccer
players in this country. Towns and clubs should strive to place experienced
coaches who have a clear understanding of the value of teaching technique at the youth and early junior levels. Equally important is the coach’s
personality and character. Working with 6- to 14-year-old children requires
patience, kindness and respect.
Coaching soccer can be confusing at times because the game changes dramatically as the player improve in both skill and physical ability. When coaching
young, developing players, as well as the adolescent players, U.S. Soccer feels it
is helpful to keep the following ideas at the forefront of your mind:
1) Set up situations where the players can learn by playing the game. The
game is the best teacher for young players.
2) Coaches can often be more helpful to a young player’s development
by organizing less, saying less and allowing the players to do more. Set up a
game and let the kids play. Keep most of your comments for before and after practice and during water breaks. Comments should be kept short and
simple. Be comfortable organizing a session that looks like pickup soccer.
3) Teaching and learning the game of soccer is a process: make your
goals seasonal, as well as daily and weekly. Often, at the younger ages,
the developmental efforts of one season are not noticeable in children until
sometime in the next season.
4) Set age-appropriate goals i.e., know what the child is able to do at that
age.
5) From a developmental standpoint, the young ages are the best ones
for learning skills. Spend the time now encouraging this growth. By the age
of 17 the capacity to pick up new motor skills begins to wane, while the ability to conceptualize team organization, tactics and strategy increases. As a
coach, work with these strengths, not against them.
6) Do not expect games and practices to look like professional soccer. If
you want to use high level soccer as a teaching tool, focus on the individual
skill level of professional players, not their organization. Give your players
opportunities to see what older, more skilled players, i.e., a high school,
college player or an older brother or sister, can do with the ball. On occasion, invite some of these players to participate in your practice. Use them
to model good soccer qualities. Let your players learn by experiencing the
game alongside or against these better players. Older players can also be
used as “neutral players.” In this case, the neutral player helps whichever
team has the ball i.e., he or she never defends. Maybe that neutral player
has limited touches and/or can’t score, but he or she gives the team with
the ball a better chance of keeping the ball. By helping to maintain possession, the neutral player(s) helps the game maintain some rhythm, and gives
the kids a clearer picture of the game’s possibilities.
7) Recognize and understand how the skills learned at each age are
connected to preparing the player to move into the next phase of his or
her development. Know what the next level of play is, and the general tools
that your players should carry with them as they move on. Help them to be
prepared.
8) Allow your players to develop these requisite skills in an environment
where the main goal is to have fun with the ball.
9) The value of matches is that they provide youngsters with an opportunity to showcase their newly acquired skill and creativity. It is always nice
to win, however that should not be your focus at the younger age groups
(through 14 years).
10) Have a clear idea of what it is you want to accomplish at practice.
Create exercises/games that replicate and repeat the movements and situations that are found in soccer and that allow the player to grow comfortable and confident with the ball at his or her feet. Encourage players to
move with the ball at his or her feet and deal with boundaries, opponents,
teammates and goals. Keep in mind that soccer is a pretty simple game.
If you are involved in soccer for long enough, you begin to realize that
all the many little games that work are really just variations on the same
basic concepts. As long as the parameters that you have established in
your exercises/small-sided games are true to soccer (goals for scoring and
defending), creates the problems that you want the kids to solve (protecting
the ball while dribbling, etc.), and allows your players to be challenged and
find some success, you’re on the right track.
11) Don’t be afraid to experiment to find what works best.
12) Remember that the game is the best teacher for the players. Coaches
and parents should think of themselves more as facilitators, monitors,
guides or even participants, to provide a rich environment for the kids to
learn from and enjoy.
Encourage Creativity and
Ball Skills Before Tactics!
The youth coach has an important role in encouraging the development
of these fundamental tools. One of the goals of this coaching guide is to
introduce parents/youth coaches to an approach to coaching youth players
that 1) embraces the lessons that are found in the game itself, and 2) is
player-centered rather than coach-centered.
A primary focus for the coach at the youth level, through the U-12 age
group, is to provide an environment that comes close to simulating the
“pickup” games of our youth. In this setting much of the creativity and
personality of kids developed naturally, without the involvement of adults.
Kids need to be allowed to play freely, develop their skills and use them in a
creative manner. Coaches should organize only so far as it helps to create
this environment.
“Beside the games, what do our training sessions look like? Are they mobile or static? Are the players free to experiment and learn from the game
or are they constantly instructed? Is there room for trial and error, or are
they simply told what to do and where to go? (Breathing life into soccer) ... is
more about converting our training sessions into some form of street soccer
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in which players, with the help of the coach experiment with the
basic elements of the game in a competitive way… Learning (in
this case, soccer) is about experimenting with new things and
relating to them. Mastery means coming to grips with things we
have experimented with, often with repetition. It is all about
developing an understanding and feel for the game. The lessons
for all of us will come from the game and so will the answers. In
the beginning the person and the game are separate, maybe even
for apart. When things get good, the game and the person become
one.”(Manfred Schellcheidt: Experimenting With The Game)
With this in mind, try to encourage comfort with the ball and
the confidence to use this skill creatively. Encourage the dribbler
at the younger ages; your team of 8 to 10 year olds should be full
of them. Dribbling, at the younger ages, in the child’s is the
child’s attempt to gain control over the ball. Controlling the ball
is primary skill that every other skill in soccer depends upon.
Although controlling the ball may seem to be a simple task, it
actually takes an enormous amount of the Child’s energy. Do not
expect him or her to look to pass or to pass with any level of
competence or awareness, until he or she has first mastered this
skill. Consider these two points.
Children from about age 6 to 12 have an almost limitless
capacity to learn body movement and coordination (i.e., motor
skills). At the same time, their intellectual capacity to
understand spatial concepts like positions and group play is
limited. Work to their strengths.
CONSIDER THIS: At the younger ages (6 to about
10), soccer is not a team sport. On the contrary, it is a time for
children to develop their individual relationship with the ball.
The fact that younger children are placed into team
environments is not their fault. Do not demand that the more
confident players share the ball. Encourage them to be creative
and go to goal. Do the same with the rest of your players. Work
to bring all your players up to that level of confidence and
comfort with the ball. Coaches should avoid the impulse to
“coach” their players from “play to play” in order to help them
win the match. Coaches should not be telling their young
players to “pass rather than dribble,” to “hold their positions” or
to “never” do something (like pass or dribble in front of the
goal).
A copy of Best Practices may be downloaded at:
http://www.ussoccer.com/coaches/resources.aspx
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Coaching Considerations
Planning and Training
Principles of Youth Coaching
• Developmentally Appropriate.
• Clear, Concise and Correct information: Brevity - Clarity - Relevance.
• Simple to Complex: There should be a flow that is appropriate to the
age of the players and the topic of the practice - in some instances this
will proceed from a warm-up or organizing activity and lead to small
group games followed by large group games and then to “The Game”
- While the progression may vary, every practice should start “Simple”
and end with “The Game”.
• Safe and Appropriate training area.
• Decision making.
• Implications for the Game.
Coaching Activities Checklist
• Are the activities fun?
• Are the activities organized?
• Are the players involved in the activities?
• Is creativity and decision making being used?
• Are the spaces used appropriate?
• Is the coach’s feedback appropriate?
• Are there implications for the game?
Training Considerations
1. Don’t make practice too simple, it will not challenge players.
2. Don’t make practice too hard, it will frustrate players.
3. Motivation is the key to learning, players must want to learn.
4. Observe, then coach. Let the players work out early problems. Give
hints to solving problems instead of all the solutions. Ask opinions.
Avoid over-coaching.
5. Training should like the game.
6. Avoid playing to one goal without transition.
7. Small-sided games with goalkeepers are excellent training games.
8. Allow players to play without fear.
Training Sessions
Age
Sessions/week DurationType of Activities
U-6 1
45 minutes
Many with short duration mini games
U-8 1 or 2
45-60 minutes
Many with short
duration mini games
U-10 2
60 minutes
Fewer activities –
longer duration
group games
U-14 2 or 3
75 minutes
2 or 3 technical and
tactical games
U-19 3
90 minutes
2 or 3 technical and
tactical games
Practice to Game Model
Evaluation
Game
Training
Coaching Priorities
We also recommend the prioritization of events by coaches:
• Objectives are identified and a season plan is developed that balances
training, competition and rest and recovery.
• The interest of the player must be dictated by the quality of scheduling
and the choice of events.
• Entering all the possible competitions/tournaments available can have
a long lasting negative impact on basic skill and fitness development.
• A systematic approach will maximize the chances of achieving peak
performance by bringing players to peak form for important
competitions and minimize the chances for over-training, over-use
injuries and burn-out.
• We recommend the following training session to match ratios:
U6-U8 1:1
U10-U12 2:1
U14-U19 3:1
• In order for an athlete to adapt (improve technical, tactical and
psychological components) there must be periods of low intensity
activity or complete rest interspersed with periods of high intensity activity.
• “More is not better.” Quantity alone does not improve quality; soccer
should be a test of skill not survival.
• Practicing or playing in matches where players are “going through
the motions” due to fatigue or lack of interest reinforce bad habits and
retard development.
• Sound nutrition and ample rest allow for more rapid recovery
from intense activity.
For all age groups we recommend one game per week. When multiple
games are played, i.e. tournaments, we recommend that the games be
reduced in time. -–U.S. Soccer National Coaching Staff
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Age Group Specifics
Recommended Training Priorities - U.S. Soccer National Coaching Staff
The following document is provided as a guideline for coaches of youth
players 5 to 18 years of age. The intent is to:
• Provide age-appropriate focus for training during the course of the season.
• Provide benchmarks for what young players should achieve by
the end of the season.
• Provide building blocks for development through the years.
It must be understood that players mature at different rates. Age
determines to a certain degree what players are physically, mentally and socially capable of on the soccer field. Some players will be capable of more
complex skills and thought processes than others as they develop. These
training priorities provide a foundation for development but it is up to the
individual coach to know and understand their players and introduce more
advanced aspects of the game as it is appropriate. It is vital to practice
and master the basics in order that players can succeed at the next level.
U6 THEME: Individual Play
CHARACTERISTICS OF U-6 PLAYERS
• Differences between boys and girls are minimal.
• Progress in motor development starts with the head and moves
downward to the feet and from the center of the body outward.
• Easy fatigue, rapid recovery
• Emphasis of fundamental movement skills:
• Increased use of all body parts.
• Play consists of a high degree of imagination and pretend activities.
• Tend to only one task at a time in problem solving situations.
• Process small bits of information at a time, long sequential
instructions are not processed.
• Simple rules only.
• Limited understanding of time, space relations, and boundaries.
• Beginning to develop self-concept, body awareness, and
self-image through movement.
• Egocentric, see world only from their perspective,
demonstrated through parallel play. They all want the ball.
• Need generous praise and the opportunity to play without pressure.
• May verbalize team, but does not understand group or collective play.
TRAINING-GAME
Number of Practices per week one
Practice to Game Ration 1:1
Duration of Practice 45 min.
Tournaments none
Games per Year 16-20
U8 THEME: Playing with Buddies-in pairs
CARACTERISTICS OF U-8 CHILDREN
• Skeletal system is still growing; growth plates are near joints, thus
injuries to those areas merit special consideration.
• Cardiovascular system is less efficient than an adult’s; a child’s
heart rate peaks sooner and takes longer to recover to full resting rate.
• Temperature regulation system is less efficient than adults;
children elevate their core body temperature more quickly with
activity and take longer to cool down than adults.
• There is perceivable improvement in pace and coordination from
U-6 to U-8, however the immaturity of a U-8’s physical ability is obvious.
9
• Limited ability to attend to more than one task at a time; the simple
task of controlling the ball demands most of their attention capacity,
thereby leaving little or no capacity for making additional decisions.
• Concept of time and space relationship is just beginning to develop
and will be limited by capacity to attend to multiple tasks.
• Limited experience with personal evaluation; effort is synonymous with
performance, “if I try hard, then I performed well” regardless of the
actual performance.
• Self-concept and body image are beginning to develop; very fragile.
• Great need for approval from adults such as parents, teachers and
coaches. They like to show individual skills.
• Easily bruised psychologically by both peers and adults;
negative comments carry great weight.
• Like to play soccer because it is “fun”; intrinsically motivated.
• True playmates emerge with the inclination toward partner activities.
• Team identity is limited; “I play on Coach Bob’s team” or
“I play on the Tigers” - club and league concepts are non-existent.
• There is desire for social acceptance; they want everybody to like them.
TRAINING-GAME
Number of Practices per week one
Duration of Practice 45 min-1 hour
Tournaments one-festival format
U10 THEME- Playing in Groups
CHARACTERISTICS OF U-10 CHILDREN
• Gross and small motor skills become more refined.
• Boys and girls begin to develop separately.
• Ability to stay on task is lengthened.
• Greater diversity in playing ability and physical maturity,
physically mature individuals demonstrate stronger motor skills.
• More prone than adults to heat injury.
• Lengthened attention span, ability to sequence thought and actions.
• Pace factor becoming developed (starting to think ahead).
• More inclined towards wanting to play rather than being told to play.
• Demonstrate increased self-responsibility, bring ball, water,
tuck in jersey, pull socks up.
• Starting to recognize fundamental tactical concepts, such as
changing direction of ball, but not always sure why.
• Repetitive technique very important, but it must be dynamic not static.
• More likely to initiate play on their own.
• Continued positive reinforcement needed.
• Explanations must still be brief, concise and indicate purpose.
• Becoming more serious about “their play”.
• Still intrinsically motivated.
• Peer pressure starting to be a factor.
• Prefer identification with team, i.e. uniform, balls, and equipment.
TRAINING-GAME
Number of Practices per week two
Duration of Practice 1 hour
Tournaments 1 to 2 festival format
Age Group Specifics
Recommended Training Priorities - U.S. Soccer National Coaching Staff
U12 THEME: Dawn of Tactical Awareness
CHARACTERISTICS OF U-12 CHILDREN
• The average age for the beginning of pubescence in girls is
10 years with a range of 7-14, for boys is age 12 with a range of 9-16.
• Flexibility training is key to prevention of injury.
• Overuse injuries, burnout and high attrition rates associated with
high-intensity children’s programs that fail to stress development
and learning enjoyment.
• Begin to develop abilities to sustain complex coordinated
skill sequences.
• Changes in thought process are the result in an increased ability
to acquire and apply knowledge.
• Begins to think in abstract terms and can address hypothetical situations.
• A systematic approach to problem solving appears at this stage, the
game of soccer must present the ability to think creatively and solve
problems while moving.
• More TV, Less structured play.
• Beginning to spend more time with friends and less with parents.
• Popularity influences self-esteem.
• Whether a child enters puberty early or late has important
psychological implications.
• Children are susceptible to conform to peer pressure.
• Most children seek peers that are most like them in age, race, sex
and socioeconomic status, opportunity to introduce the value of
cultural diversity.
• Developing a conscience, morality and a scale of values.
TRAINING-GAME
Number of Practices per week two
Duration of Practice 1 hour- 1 hr. 15 min.
Tournaments two plus state event
U-14 Training Priorities
U-13 AND U-14: Development of Individual Skills, Individual and
Small Group Tactics
High Priority
• The importance of Possession – Do Not Give the Ball Away!
• Development of individual skill, All practices must challenge the
player in competition.
• Understanding of combination play, Support, Takeovers and Wall Pass
• Individual and small group defending, one session in three devoted
to 1v1’s, 2v2’s and 3v3’s.
• Develop an understanding of; Delay, Tracking Back, Depth and Balance.
Lower Emphasis – Functional Play, Team Play and Set Plays.
All activities should be challenging, motivating and involve TRANSITION!!!
Suggested Training Topics for U-11
through U-14 players
All activities should be realistic, challenging, motivating and involve TRANSITION!!!
Highest Emphasis
Individual Skills:
• Dribbling to beat an opponent
• Dribbling to attack space
• Dribbling to shield/protect the ball
• Short Passing
• Long Passing**
• Kicking
• Finishing
• Heading**
• Receiving
• Turning
• Receiving and Turning**
• Tackling
• Ball Control (juggling and juggling tricks)
Individual Tactics:
• Dribbling to beat an opponent
• Dribbling to attack space
• Dribbling to shield/protect the ball
• Defending 1v1
• Defending 2v1
Small Group Tactics:
• Passing and Support (recognition, angle, timing, shape)
• Combination Play (wall pass, takeover, overlap)**
• Penetration (concentrate on small-sided games up to 4v4,
number up and down situations)
• Possession (concentrate on small-sided games up to 4v4,
number up and down situations)
• Defending 1v2
• Defending 2v2
• Defending 2v3**
• Defending 3v2**
• Defending 3v3**
Lower Emphasis
• Positional Play/Functional Play (can be accomplished in 4v4, focusing
on generic roles of players and relating them to 11v11 positions)
• Team Play (can be accomplished in pre-game/halftime team
and individual talks)
• Set Plays (cover both attacking and defending thought process
behind the organization)
**Topics may be introduced at U-12, but are most appropriate to focus
on in U13&U14
U-15 and U-16: Development of Group Skill/Tactics
High Priority
• Development of individual skill should be covered in the warm-up.
• Understanding of combination play, Support, Takeovers, Wall pass,
Third man running and Overlap.
• Do Not Give the Ball Away!
• One session in three devoted to 3v3’s, 4v4’s and 5v5’s.
• Develop an understanding of; Depth (role of strong side defenders),
Balance (role of weak side defenders), Concentration and
Communication (Who-What-When).
10
Age Group Specifics
Recommended Training Priorities - U. S. Soccer National Coaching Staff
Lower Emphasis – Functional Play, Team
Play and Set Plays.
• Players should have a complete understanding of the principle of team play
principles of play
Ball Possession
All Activities should be challenging, motivating and involve TRANSITION!!!
U-17: Development of Positional Play
• Individual and group skill should be covered in the warm-up.
• Functional Play, Attacking roles and responsibilities, Defending roles
and responsibilities, one in three practices devoted to defensive
aspects of the game.
• Match-related practice, offense vs defense.
• Crossing, Develop a complete understanding of; Crossing angle,
Overlaps and Near & Far post runs.
• Set Plays, Develop a complete understanding of; Attacking and
defending responsibilities at corner kicks, free kicks and Importance
of possession from throw-ins, in defensive and midfield thirds of the
field versus possession and creativity in the final third.
All activities should be challenging, motivation and involve TRANSITION!!!
Attacking
Defending
Functions
Support
Delay
Creation & utilization of space
Depth
Width and Depth
Balance
Penetration
Concentration
Improvisation
Control/Restraint
Instant Transition
U-18: Development of Team Play
• Individual and group skill should be covered in the warm-up.
• Functional Play
• Team Play, match-related practice (offense vs defense) and Match conditioned.
• One in three practices devoted to defensive aspects of the game.
Central Florida’s Polk County is home to more than 225 sporting events annually and the headquarters for Florida
Youth Soccer Association. Florida State Soccer Association, the Independent Softball Association and USA WaterSki. Our
world-class facilities host Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers during Spring Training and World Championship soccer
events, including the FYSA State Cup and The Disney Soccer Showcase.
The Lake Myrtle Sports Complex boasts 11 international-sized soccer fields and five collegiate baseball fields, making it the
centerpiece of Central Florida’s sports facilities. The County hosts national- and world-championship tournaments annually
in soccer, baseball, softball, basketball and numerous other sports. The Chain of Lakes, Tigertown Baseball Complexes and
the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex anchor the available baseball facilities, providing 11 Major League Baseball fields.
Off the field, Polk County offers exciting adventures that will make your visit complete. With top-notch lodging
and restaurants and the future home to LEGOLAND Florida, which will open late 2011. For your copy of the Official
Guide to Sports and Sports Facilities in Polk County or for a Vacation Guide filled with things to see and do, call
1-800-828-7655, code FYSA or visit www.CentralFloridaSports.com.
Follow us on Twitter: @centralflsports
11
Issues to Consider with Youth Players
Age of Competitive Play
While it is acknowledged and recognized that preteen players should be
allowed to pursue playing opportunities that meet both their interest and
ability level, we strongly discourage environments where players below the
age of twelve are forced to meet the same “competitive” demands as their
older counterparts therefore we recommend the following:
1. 50% playing time
2. No league or match results
3. 8 v 8 at U12
4. Academy programs are a good alternative (see academy section)
The key to this concept is to realize that competition is part of the game.
When the competitiveness needs to be tempered is in regards to results being the sole measure of their play. Coaching decisions should not be based
upon a desired result but more in regards to the level of their play.
Festivals for Players Under 10
We believe that Soccer Festivals should replace soccer tournaments for
all players under the age of ten. Festivals feature a set number of minutes
per event (e.g., 10 games X 10 minutes) with no elimination and no ultimate
winner. We also endorse and support the movement to prohibit U10 teams
from traveling to events that promote winning and losing and the awarding
of trophies. Festivals do not preclude players from playing a competitive
game. The game by its nature is competitive. The difference is that the
result is not the over riding factor of the event. Coaches need to give each
player quality playing time and allow the player to experience different
roles within the game. Our older more competitive teams are already
playing games in this format to prepare them for future events where the
results do count.
FYSA has developed an academy festival which incorporates appropriate
play for players U10 and below. The format of the festival includes tiered
play, mixed play, and free play. The flexibility of the groups involved allowed
us to mix teams and clubs. This allows for competitive games.
Tournament Play
We believe that excessive play at competitive tournaments is detrimental
to individual growth and development, and can serve to reduce long-term
motivation. Do not multiple matches being played on one day and one
weekend have a negative effect on the quality experience and development
of the individual player? Further far too many playing schedules include so
many tournaments and matches that there is never an “off season.” We
believe that players under the age of twelve should not play more than
100 minutes per day, and those players older than thirteen should not play
more than 120 minutes per day.
QUALITY OF PLAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN QUANTITY OF PLAY
FYSA offers DC Cups, Davis/Hackworth Cup, and Region Cup as events
thatmay provide additional opportunities of play.
We also recommend to tournament managers and schedulers:
• The players should be allowed ample rest between matches.
• That all tournament matches be of the same length and that no
full-length match be introduced during play-off rounds.
• Kick-off times allow players a reasonable opportunity to prepare for
competition. This encompasses rest and recovery, nutrition and
adequate time to warm-up and stretch after traveling a long distance
in addition to taking into consideration extreme environmental conditions.
Playing Up
The majority of clubs, leagues and district, state or regional Olympic
Development Programs in the United States allow talented, younger players to compete on teams with and against older players. This occurs as a
natural part of the development process and is consistent throughout the
world. Currently, however, there are isolated instances where the adult
leadership has imposed rules or policies restricting the exceptional, young
player from “playing up.” These rules vary. Some absolutely will not allow
it. Others establish team or age-group quotas while the most lenient review
the issue on a case by case basis. Associations that create rules restricting
an individual player’s option to play at the appropriate competitive level are
in effect impeding that player’s opportunity for growth. For development to
occur, all players must be exposed to levels of competition commensurate
with their skills and must be challenged constantly in training and matches
in order to aspire to higher levels of play and maintain their interest in and
passion for the game.
When it is appropriate for soccer development, the opportunity for the
exceptional player to play with older players must be available. If there is
a concern regarding the individual situation, the decision must be carefully
evaluated by coaches and administrators familiar with the particular player.
When faced with making the decision whether the player ought to play up,
the adult leadership must be prepared with sound rationale to support their
decision. Under no circumstances should coaches exploit or hold players
back in the misplaced quest for team building and winning championships, nor should parents push their child in an attempt to accelerate to the
top of the soccer pyramid. In addition, playing up under the appropriate
circumstances should not preclude a player playing back in his or her own
age group. When the situation dictates that it is in the best interests of
the player to do so, it should not be interpreted as a demotion, but as an
opportunity to gain or regain confidence.
An option to rostering a player up would be to have the player train
with older teams or guest play at appropriate events. This would allow
the player to acclimate his or herself to a higher playing level without a
permanent placement.
Some rationale for the above includes:
The playing environment must provide the right balance between challenge and success. The best players must have the opportunity to compete
with and against players of similar abilities. Players with less ability must
be allowed to compete at their own level in order to enjoy the game and to
improve performance.
In conclusion the development of players and advancement of the overall
quality in the United States is the responsibility of every youth coach, administrator and policymaker in this country. It is our obligation to provide an
environment where every player is given the opportunity to improve and to
gain the maximum enjoyment from their soccer experience and ultimately,
what is best for the player. FYSA rule requires approval from FYSA Director
of Coaching if a player is playing up more than one year.
Realizing Player Potential
To maximize player potential, we believe that State Associations and
progressive clubs should work to expose their better coaches, who should
hold the “Y” License, to their youngest players. It is also seen as important
that mentoring programs be established for community soccer coaches to
improve the quality of youth soccer training.
The developmental approach emphasizes the growth of individual skills
and group tactical awareness. We feel too much emphasis is placed on
“team” play and competition in the preteen years. We believe in an inclusion model for preteen players. From this perspective, the goal of youth soc-
12
cer programs at all levels is to include players in matches at an age when
experience is more important than outcome.
Further options for players in their teen years that are not interested in
competing at the highest level, but still have a love for the game should be
created. Perhaps older teen coed teams or high school based teams on a
recreational basis.
Minimum age of play
We believe that a child must be five years old by August 1 to register with
a soccer club for the soccer year September 1 to August 31. Children younger than five years old should not be allowed to register with a soccer club.
Coaching Licenses
We believe that competitive level coaches should hold a minimum of a
“D” License. Recreation level coaches should hold a minimum of an “E”
certificate, if they are coaching teenage or older players (13years old and
up) and an age appropriate Youth Module certificate if they are coaching
children (U6 thru U12). Coaches working at the top level (premier/classic)
should hold a “C” License or National Diploma. Ideally they should hold a
“B” License and/or an Advanced National Diploma.
The overall intent here is to create minimum license requirements in
Region III and to establish levels of license with commensurate levels of play
The rationale for these requirements follows:
• To provide continuing education on the game in Region III.
• To ensure that Region III coaches have an equal opportunity for
education and standards in the game as our domestic and foreign
counterparts. Many countries now require mandatory licensing.
• To create the appropriate training environment to minimize the risk
of injury. To provide information on the prevention and care of injury.
• To reduce the risk claims against negligence and to be accountable
for background screening.
Risk Management
We believe all coaches involved in youth soccer should be subject to
background checks and that coaching licenses be required as part of the
risk management process. We also believe that each coach should be
issued a registration card, certifying that they have completed the risk management process and have attained the required coaching certification.
State and Regional competitions for
players under 12
We believe that youth soccer is too competitive at the early ages, resulting in an environment that is detrimental to both players and adults; much
of the negative behavior reported about parents is associated with preteen
play. The direct and indirect pressure exerted on coaches and preteen
players to win is reinforced by state “championships” and tournament “winners.” We therefore advocate that, in the absence of regional competition
for under 12’s, state festivals replace state cups. We also strongly recommend that the status quo be maintained with regard to U12 regional and
national competition.
Priorities of Coaching
We also recommend the prioritization of events by coaches:
• Objectives are identified and a season plan is developed that
balances training, competition and rest and recovery.
• The interest of the player must be dictated by the quality of
scheduling and the choice of events.
• Entering all the possible competitions/tournaments available can
13
have a long lasting negative impact on basic skill and fitness development.
• A systematic approach will maximize the chances of achieving peak
performance by bringing players to peak form for important
competitions and minimize the chances for over-training,
over-use injuries and burn-out.
• We recommend the following training session to match ratios:
U6-U8 1:1
U10-U12 2:1
U14-U19 3:1
• In order for an athlete to adapt (improve technical, tactical and
psychological components) there must be periods of low intensity
activity or complete rest interspersed with periods of high
intensity activity.
• “More is not better.” Quantity alone does not improve quality;
soccer should be a test of skill not survival.
• Practicing or playing in matches where players are “going through the
motions” due to fatigue or lack of interest reinforce bad habits
and retard development.
• Sound nutrition and ample rest allow for more rapid recovery
from intense activity.
League Play and Matches per year
We believe that the optimal playing and learning environment includes
participating in no more than two matches per week. We also believe
that players should not compete in more than one full match per day and
no more than two full matches per weekend. There must be a day of rest
between full-length matches. We strongly oppose the practice of scheduling regular season and/or make-up matches in a manner that results in
four full matches in the same week. Modified FIFA rules apply: no reentry
per half for the U14 and younger age groups and no reentry after substitution for the U15 and older age groups. In addition, we believe that players
should not compete in more than 40 playing dates in a calendar year. Players must have one full month off from all soccer activity.
National and Regional Cups
We believe that, in order to be consistent with the final stages of the
competition, the national tournament for the top players should adopt a no
reentry rule for state and regional level play.
The Professional Link
We believe that the professional level plays a necessary and vital role
in the growth and development of youth and amateur soccer. In all soccer
cultures, the professional level serves to provide for the vertical movement
of top players and creates the conditions for national heroes to emerge.
The professional influence also accounts for much of the indirect education
that permeates soccer societies. Television ratings and paid attendance
have a significant local and national impact on media perception and civic
response. We feel that promoting professional soccer is foundational to all
professional coaching positions.
Active Coaching
We believe that top-level coaches, particularly those in administrative
positions, such as club and state directors and national staff coaches must
remain active practitioners. In order to gain respect and proactively affect
change it is essential that coaches in leadership positions are current in
their knowledge and constantly evolving their craft. In addition:
• Soccer continues to evolve rapidly and nowhere more dramatically
than at the youth level in the United States. Coaches must have
practical contact with the newest trends and be well positioned to
proactively test new theories against existing models.
• Many coaching directors in the United States are in their 20’s and
30’s and still developing their personal philosophy and pedagogy.
If these talented young coaches are removed from their fertile learning
environment before gaining the lessons of experience, the short and
long-term impact on the next generations of players will be sorely felt.
• Personal growth stagnates without constant challenge. Each new
training session is an opportunity to reaffirm or reassess existing
soccer knowledge, beliefs and pedagogical skills. Each level of play
provides unique coaching challenges and, in order to service the needs
of players and coaches at every level, practical and ongoing contact
with players of all ages and abilities is essential.
• Top club coaches are influenced by actions, not words. To gain the
confidence and respect of these coaches, it is important for the
coaching director to demonstrate their knowledge and skills as a field
coach. Without respect, the possibilities for positive growth and
evolution within the top leagues and clubs are severely hamstrung.
• The director of coaching is often uniquely placed to vertically integrate
the technical, tactical, physical and psychological insights gleaned
from the regional and national teams programs. Often, these
messages can only be delivered through contact with players; this is
particularly the case at the area and state Olympic Development
Program levels.
• One of the most important messages in the coaching education
process is that coaching skills evolve with use and erode through
inactivity. This message is true of both experts and beginners.
Coaching directors must be seen to practice what they preach.
• The motivation for coaches to administrate can be found in the
rewards of the field.
• The vast majority of soccer coaches within the United States are
parents with no formal background in the sport. The coaching director
must serve as a role model and inspiration for this population by
conducting clinics and workshops and by learning to appreciate and
focus the unique challenge of the parent/coach experience.
This process is practical, ongoing and very demanding.
• The director of coaching must remain connected and sensitive to the
balance of competitive pressures that influence those players striving
to reach the top level and those coaches making a living from the
game. Competition is a necessary and important element in sport and
society. Without periodic re-exposure to the stresses of intense
competition, coaches in leadership positions can easily lose touch with
the balance between the theoretical and the practical: X’s and O’s
must always be grounded in the reality of the playing level.
14
Club Development
FYSA Model Club Program
ADMIN
BOARD
VOLUNTEERS
PAID STAFF
PLAYERS
COACHING
DIR. OF COACHING
PAID COACH STAFF
VOLUNTEER
COACH
A club is more than a collection of teams. Too often a club is a collection
of teams that work independently. A club in order to function properly need
to have mission statement and a clear sense of direction. A model club
system has to have an administration and coaches who are willing to work
together to provide a system by where each is making the decisions based
upon their area of expertise. Facilities is the third component that is necessary in order to handle training, games, and other activities.
A club must develop a philosophy in terms of what their goals and
priorities are. The first question a club needs to ask is what sort of
club they are looking to be. There are four levels of clubs: Recreational,
Competitive, Developmental Combination, or Elite Level Combination.
Depending on the level at which a club is at and the resources they have
will determine at what level they are looking to.
We will look at a variety of examples of clubs and see what level you
may find yourself at. I will be looking mainly at multi team clubs. Single
digit clubs are a phenomenon in Florida but will not be addressed in
this example. These clubs have mainly been spawned from disgruntled
groups who have broken off from other clubs. There are some examples
of smaller communities as well who have formed clubs that fall into this
age group.
Florida is behind the rest of the country in terms of organization of their
15
FACILITIES
FIELDS, PRACTICE
OR TRAINING,
SNACK BAR,
CLASSROOM,
OFFICE
club system. Established clubs are beginning to make inroads into the
professionalization of their clubs but this trend needs to continue. Many
states have clubs who have consolidated into larger clubs where they have
more resources to draw from, more political clout when it comes to working
on facilities, and more political power within their state associations.
Recreational Club
These clubs typically begin as small neighborhood clubs with younger aged
players. The coaching base is typically the volunteer parent coach. They may
have some teams at the older age levels but the largest part of their program
is with players born U12 and below. In order to best meet the needs of the
club is to find a director of coaching whose emphasis is on the U12 and
below player. The director should not be a trainer of teams but a trainer of
coaches. Since most of the coaches have little to no experience in coaching the director would then help those coaches via clinics, symposiums, and
observations with feedback for the coaches. If the club is not ready to hire a
director FYSA does offer coaching courses that are age specific for the parent
coach. This would improve the coaching of the players across the board. The
role of the administration is to make decisions as to how to fund this and
what the clubs goals in terms of expanding will be.
Club Development
Recommendations
Director of Coaching - National Youth License, National A License
(or working on)
Coaching - age specific modules for U12 and below coaches, E license for
U14 and above head coaches
Administration - handle organizational issues in terms of registration,
funding, fields and scheduling
Competitive-only club
These clubs have typically started as teams who wish to compete at a
competitive level U14 and above without the feeder system of a younger
age program. The down side to this type of club is the lack of a feeder
system and the resources that brings. Their resources are limited to those
players who are members of the club. They also have a limited political
clout due to the lack of numbers involved. A director of coaching should be
in charge of placing qualified coaches for each of the teams. The administration should be involved with fundraising and organizational issues.
Recommendations
Director of Coaching - National A License
Coaching - Head coaches U14 C License and U16 and above B License
or higher, asst. coaches D License or higher.
Administration - handle organizational issues
Developmental Combination Club
This is a club who has the combination of recreational and competitive players. The main goal of this club would be to develop the younger
players to feed into the older competitive groups. With this type of club
you have the size and resources to run a very good program. The main
issue of a club at this level is maintaining the balance between the recreational and competitive program. Both groups have needs that need to
be addressed. If a director is hired it is usually for one side or the other.
In order for a director of coaching to be effective at this size of club you
could perhaps split the position and hire two part time directors one for
recreational and one for competitive. The second alternative would be
to have the one director be more of a resource person for the coaches
rather than a hands on person with the teams. He would be directing
the coaches as opposed to being a coach. In either instance in terms of
coaching the head coaches need to be paired with teams that they are
qualified to coach. Administratively you need more of everything. More
fields , more coaches, more equipment……
Recommendations
Director of Coaching - A license, National Youth
Coaching - Head coaches U 12 and below age specific module, U14 C
License, U16+ A or B license
Administration - Executive board that includes representatives from both
sides of the club.
Elite Level Club
If given an ample amount of funding and an adequate amount of
fields here is what the elite club should look like. The club would have
an executive director who would handle the day to day operations of the
club. On the coaching side you would have a director of coaching which
would over look the entire program as well as assistant directors that
would oversee the boys comp, girls comp, and rec programs. The teams
would be coached by a professional staff both on the competitive and
recreational side. Administration would oversee the program but would
not be involved with the day to day operations. They would take more of
an advisory role. The professional staff would offer guidance in terms of
team, extra training as well as a calendar of events.
Recommendations
Director of Coaching - A License, National Youth
Asst. Director-A or B License, National Youth
Coaching - Head Coaches U12 and below age specific module, U14 C
License, U16+ A or B license
Administrative - Executive director, club board with representatives of all
sided of the club would serve in an advisory role
16
The Academy Approach
An Alternative
Currently some clubs in Florida and other states have established soccer
academies. The development of the “Soccer Academy” approach for youth
players ages U-10 thru U-12 is based on the recognition of several characteristics unique to these players. They are:
1. There is a wide range of variation in their physical maturity.
2. Growth spurts are more dramatic and can enhance or detract from a
child’s physical ability for short durations.
3. At this same time, players in these ages make great strides in their
ability to play the game. These advances appear as big steps,
intermittently, rather than a slow gradual process.
4. During these ages, there is a great increase in cognitive ability. The
increased ability to process complex ideas affects their learning and
ability to address hypothetical situations.
5. It is vital to place player development over results. Competition is
important in this age group however it needs to be appropriate competition.
Because the “academy” term is used for a variety of programs, the FYSA
Staff Academy Committee has established “FYSA Academy Accreditation”
Goal: To implement a program where we can match the abilities of the
players with appropriate competitions. The academy process also allows
for the flexibility of player movement within the given club.
Target: Initially the academy program would target players in the U9
and U10 age group. The goal is to extend this process through the U12
age group.
Style of Play: In a festival setting play could occur in a tiered or mixed
setting. This would allow players to be placed based on ability or mixed so
that players could be exposed to higher levels of play.
Definition: The “academy” name is used many different ways. To that
end we as a committee propose that an “academy” needs to be defined
by Florida Youth Soccer. The designation that would be” FYSA accredited
academy”. This designation would allow for areas or registration
designation and rostering abilities to be determined at the state, region
and district level.
Requirements:
1. Program Director- would need to hold a nationally recognized
coaching license and the US Soccer National Youth License
2. Academy Program would be open to all players within the club.
No selection or rating of players for entry is allowed.
3. Each program would be required to have a Parent Education
Program as part of their academy.
4. 75% of the academy coaches should have taken the appropriate age
group module or the National Youth License.
Application: After the initial academy application is made a club retains
FYSA sanctioned academy status for one year. Application for the next
seasonal year would need to be made. The applications would be reviewed
by the FYSA Academy Committee.
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Additional items in terms of Academy Play
Registration: Registration for academies is allowed for by FYSA rule. The
real determining factor is the rules of competition of the region, league, or
tournament you are playing in.
Competitions: Changes in region, district, leagues, and tournaments
need be made to allow for FYSA accredited academies to play off of rosters.
Implementation: Provide a support group of coaches and administrators
to address issues of implementation. For example concerns dealing with
referees, uniforms, scheduling, facilitators, and fields.
Support: The National Youth License will be held to allow for program
directors to fulfill the license requirement. The academy committee is also
developing a parent education program for the academy programs that do
not have those in place already.
Process: The academy program is a process. It should not be viewed as
a one year fix but as an ongoing process to allow for the appropriate play in
appropriate environments for our younger age players
Parent Corner
Role of the Parent
Florida Youth Soccer Endorses Growing
Champions for Life!
Florida Youth Soccer is excited to announce a special relationship with Growing
Champions for Life, Inc. The endorsement of this exciting organization means
access to the inspirational videos, interesting audio interviews, educational assessments, and stimulating courses of the GCFL web site for FYSA members at a
special discounted price.
The philosophy of Growing Champions for Life (a non-profit organization) is
dedicated to creating cohesive families, healthy teams, and principle-centered
athletes who win at life, not just at sports. Founder David Benzel said, “The True
Hero Inner Circle program is designed to help families create the most positive
sport family environment possible while developing confident athletes who see
their parents as heroes.”
The program is a perfect fit for FYSA’s commitment to positive sport families
and healthy player development at every level.”
To gain access to the True Hero Inner Circle resources at a special FYSA discounted price. Go to: http://growingchampionsforlife.com/membership/fysa
Pregame/Practice
• Ensure players have proper equipment (shoes(properly fit), shinguards,
shorts, t-shirts, socks) As the players get older they should take this responsibility
• Time and site of practice/game game-arrive 30 minutes prior to match
Practice-arrive on time, make sure site is correct and coach is present
• Minimize instructions to players during practice in terms of play
• Ensure players has proper fluids and they have eaten properly
Practice-what to look for
• Players should be engaged in activity-players should not be standing around
• Players should be getting touches on the ball
• Positive feedback from coach
• Parent should sit and observe-no parental coaching
Team Management
One of the most crucial aspects of an enjoyable coaching experience is effective team management. In youth soccer, this means working with both players
and their parents. Two primary things you need to do are to formalize your own
“Philosophy of Coaching” and hold a “Parent-Coach Meeting”. There are two
factors that should be prominent in any philosophy of coaching. They are “Player
Development” and “enjoyment of the Game”. The meeting needs to be held
before the first game. Issues that need to be covered are:
• A discussion of your coaching philosophy and objectives for the season.
• Discuss what is expected of the parents; i.e. transportation, communication,
general program support and good sportsmanship.
• Secure parents to perform needed roles; i.e. team parent, communications,
snacks, first-aid and fund raising.
• Expectations of players; i.e. soccer ball, water and shin-guards.
• Expectation of you the Coach; i.e. being on time, effective
communication with the players and parents and improving your skill
by attending coaching courses.
Safety and Ethical Aspects
It is recommended that you check with your club regarding rules and regulations
that pertain to coaches. The Florida Youth Soccer Association may be reached by
phone at 863 268-8220 or on the web at www.fysa.com.
Be aware of your responsibility in regard to health and safety issues.
Games
• Do not shout or yell at players-it will only distract them
• Feedback often times is incorrect-For example cheering a player who kick the
ball away down the field is just getting rid of the ball and should be looking
for opportunities to keep it or give it to a teammate
• If you want to coach-volunteer to help out
• Applaud good play on both sides
• Refrain from abusing referees. Often in these games they are learning just
like the players.
Post Practice/Game
• Ask player how they think they played? Listen only-do not comment
• What did you do well?
• Did you win? or Did you score a goal? Are not proper questions
• Parental Critique after game or in car going home is a player’s greatest fear.
This is even harder for players whose mom or dad is coaching.
Other Information
• Get out and play with your players-no instruction unless they ask.
Just have fun with them.
• Do not reward players for goals-this tends to detract from the team p
lay of the game
• Let the coach know any special concerns he/she may need to know about.
• Encourage players to respect their teammates, coaches, referees,
and opponents.
• Address concerns in regards to team or players to coach away from field and player.
Online Resources for Parents
FYSA maintains a parents page on their website at http://www.fysa.
com/parents/index_E.html . Information and helpful links to many related
organizations are posted on the “Parents” page.
• Know and understand the Laws of the Game. Examples: Players must wear
shin guards and shoes, inflation of the ball, no jewelry, field size and duration
of the game appropriate to the age of the players.
• Use proper instruction of players regarding safe techniques and methods
of play. Examples: teach the laws of the game to the players, use progression
for teaching technique. Implement appropriate training programs to
make sure your players are fit for practice and competition.
Example: Warm-up and stretching prior to training and games.
• To further insure players safety make sure equipment and playing
surface are in accordance with the laws of the game.
• Supervise and control your players so as to avoid injury situations, taking into
consideration factors such as age, experience, physical condition and
competitive situation.
• Always err on the side of safety and caution.
Know who the contact person is in your club that handles insurance matters
and how to process claims.
Develop a “Risk Management” plan for your team. It is important that all
adults who will be working with youth players are registered by your club registrar
and have received a clear background check.
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Team Management
FYSA CODE OF ETHICS
Players
• I will encourage good sportsmanship from fellow players, coaches, officials
and parents at all times.
• I will remember that soccer is an opportunity to learn and have fun.
• I deserve to play in an environment that is free of drugs, tobacco, and
alcohol; and expect everyone to refrain from their use at all soccer games.
• I will do the best I can each day, remembering that all players have talents
and weaknesses the same as I do.
• I will treat my coaches, other players and coaches, game officials, other
administrators, and fans with respect at all times; regardless of race, sex,
creed, or abilities, and I will expect to be treated accordingly.
• I will concentrate on playing soccer. Always giving my best effort.
• I will play by the rules at all times.
• I will at all times control my temper, resisting the temptation of retaliate.
• I will always exercise self control.
• Conduct during competition towards play of the game and all officials shall
be in accordance with appropriate behavior and in accordance with FIFA’s
“Laws of the Game”, and in adherence to FYSA rules.
• While traveling, shall conduct themselves so as to being credit to themselves
and their team.
• Alcohol, illegal drugs and unauthorized prescription drugs shall not be
possessed, consumed or distributed before, during or after any game or at
any other time at the field and/or game complex.
Coaches/Volunteers
• I will never place the value of winning before the safety and welfare of
all players
• I will always show respect for players, other coaches, and game
officials.
• I will lead by example, demonstrating fair play and sportsmanship
at all times.
• I will be demonstrate knowledgeable of the rules of the game, and
teach these rules to my players.
• I will never use abusive or insulting language. I will treat everyone
with dignity.
• I will not tolerate inappropriate behavior, regardless of the situation.
• I will not allow the use of anabolic agents or stimulants, drugs,
tobacco, or alcohol by any of my players.
• I will never knowingly jeopardize the eligibility and participation of
a student-athlete.
• Youth have a greater need for example than criticism. I will be the
primary soccer role model.
• I will at all times conduct myself in a positive manner.
• Coaching is motivating players to produce their best effort, inspiring
players to learn, and encouraging players to be winners.
• Coach’s actions on sidelines during games shall be in the spirit of
“good sportsmanship” at all times. Profanity, profane gestures,
arguing, inciting disruptive behavior by spectators and/or players, or
any conduct not in the spirit of good sportsmanship, shall require
disciplinary action from the affiliate.
possessed, consumed or distributed before, during or after any game
or at any other time at the field and/or game complex.
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Parents/Spectators
• I will encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for
all players, coaches, game officials, and administrators. at all times.
• I will place the emotional and physical well being of all players ahead of any
personal desire to win.
• I will support the coaches, officials, and administrators working with my
child, in order to encourage a positive and enjoyable experience for all.
• I will remember that the game is for the players, not for the adults.
• I will ask my child to treat other players, coaches, game officials,
administrators, and fans with respect.
• I will always be positive.
• I will always allow the coach to be the only coach.
• I will not get into arguments with the opposing team’s parents,
players, or coaches.
• I will not come onto the field for any reason during the game.
• I will not criticize game officials.
possessed, consumed or distributed before, during or after any game or
at any other time at the field and/or game complex.
RISK MANAGEMENT
GUIDELINES FOR DEALING WITH SEVERE WEATHER - BY ALFRED KLEINAITIS Manager of Referee Development and Education
The peak season for severe weather occurs in the United States between
May and August, typically in the late afternoon and early evening.
LIGHTNING
a. Recognizing the threat
(1) Apply the 30-30 rule — When you see lightning, count the
time until you hear thunder. If this time is 30 seconds or
less, seek proper shelter. If you can’t see the lightning, just
hearing the thunder is a good back-up rule. Wait 30
minutes or more after hearing the last thunder before
leaving shelter.
(2) Know and heed warning systems and community rules
— Many communities or park systems have lightning
detection and warning systems. Use this information and obey the
rules established by the community or park system.
(3) Know and apply the rules or procedures established by the
competition authority.
(4) Minimize the risk of being struck — Referees must protect the safety of
all participants by stopping game activities quickly, so that
participants and spectators may retire to a safer place before the
lightning threat thunder, you are within reach of lightning.
b. Seeking proper shelter
(1) No place outside is safe near thunderstorms
(2) The best shelter is a large, fully enclosed, substantially constructed
building. A vehicle with a solid metal roof and metal sides is a
reasonable second choice.
c. If there is no proper shelter, avoid dangerous locations:
(1) Higher elevations
(2) The best shelter is a large, fully enclosed, substanially constructed
building. A vehicle with a solid metal roof and metal sides is a
reasonable second choice.
(3) Tall isolated objects, such as trees, poles, or light posts.
(4) Unprotected open buildings
(5) Rain shelters
(6) Bus stops
(7) Metal fences and metal bleachers
d. If you cannot avoid these locations, crouch down on the balls of your
feet, with your head tucked into your chest and your hands over your ears.
e. If someone is hit: All deaths from lightning result from cardiac arrest
and stopped breathing. CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, be
come involved in such assistance only if they have proper training.
f. Remain calm young players.
OTHER TYPES OF SEVERE WEATHER
a. Severe storms or tornadoes
Obey local rules and heed warnings (meaning that a severe proper
shelter immediately — see above. Remember, according to standard
weather warning terminology a “warning” represents a more
immediately likely occurrence than a “watch.”
b. Hurricanes
There is usually plenty of advance notice, so games will probably have
been cancelled. Look for warning signs.
c. Hail
Stop the game . clear the filed, and seek proper shelter see above.
NO SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY GUIDELINES
WILLGIVE 100% GUARANTEED TOTAL
SAFETY, BUT THESE STEPS WILL HELP YOU
AVOID THE VAST MAJORITY OF CASUALTIES.
If there is a possibility of severe weather, the referee and as-sistant
referees should discuss these guidelines in their pregame of their respective
duties. Referees in particular should clearly identify what assistance they
expect in detecting and bringing to their immediate attention any dangerous weather conditions which may not be directly visible to them. If such
conditions develop only after a match has begun, the referee should take
the the assistant referees. A brief word to the coaches regarding steps the
referee will take to ensure player safety in threatening weather conditions
would be useful.
20
Risk Management Article
Coach v Coach/Player The Implications Play me the ball
There are times when a coach wants to jump in and play with his/her players.
We do it for a variety of reasons; to get our daily workout, to compete, to show
players how to do it, or to help out. We have many motivations but does it affect
the team and its well being. You also have to realize that an adult body and a youth
body are two different things. Soccer is a contact sport and contact does occur.
When the adult and the youth collide there may be injuries. None of us want that
and we must be careful that it doesn’t. I know for myself I am not nearly as nimble
and I can’t avoid those collisions nearly as easy as in days gone by.
From a pure coaching perspective here are the situations that can occur when
the coach enters the field as a player
The coach who inserts himself in the game does effect the dynamics of the
game. By adding yourself in the game the players tend to focus on getting the
ball to the coach. It only makes sense to the players is that if I can get the ball to
the coach he will be pleased with me. Often times the coach’s body language
lets the player know as to whether he is pleased with their play. A good example
is my play on a reserve team that the 1st team coach played with. When he
played with us you always wanted to try and get him the ball so he would look
favorably upon us and move us up to the first team. Our team was always more
effective when he missed a game as we were more free flowing and would incorporate all of our teammates into the game.
Player/coach
Parent/Player game
This is the situation that is often seen where the former player begins his coaching career. The player/coach tends to play with the players more then coaching
the players. A large part of coaching is observation and if you are playing you are
not able to observe all of the players. This is the type of coach who needs to step
away from the game when it involves the team he is coaching. This coach has a
lot to offer but needs to realize the differences in their roles.
Show off
This is the coach who likes to show the players what he/she can do. That is
all fine and good but the idea is finding out what the players can do or can’t do.
Players do learn from examples given by the coach. They should be short demonstrations not from long demonstrations that take away from the time the player
should be spending with the ball.
I have to win
Coaches by their nature are competitive. Sometimes their competitiveness
gets in the way of the learning of the players. By this I mean certain things a
coach might do are not within the confines of the rules. We set a bad example for
the players in how they should play the game fairly. This can also occur as we get
frustrated with our players play. Our attitude often affects our players in a negative manner. Even if we play within the confines of the rules the coach dominates
the game thus taking away the learning opportunities of the players.
21
Seems like a good idea on the surface but often you have all of the dynamics
for disaster both for the players and the parents. The parents want to prove themselves to the players and they may or may not be physically capable to do this.
This creates a situation where the parent gets hurt or they are unable to avoid a
player and the player gets hurt.
Coaches need to know what their role is with the team. By inserting yourself
into the game you relinquish the coaching role and become a player. This is not
something we want to do on a frequent basis. There are times when a coach can
insert himself into the game. When you do though you want to make sure in your
mind what goal you wish to obtain by doing so. You need to be careful you are
not changing too much in terms of the dynamics of your team. Ultimately you
will not be on the field with them and your team needs to function as a team. The
coach who plays at the end of practice with the team every practice never allows
for the team to function as a team at the end of the practice. You have made the
game different than the one you have trained them for throughout the preceding
part of the practice. You are also unable to observe and analyze you team when
you are playing as you have a very limited perspective. Lastly we don’t want as
a coach to put ourselves in a situation where we could hurt one of our players.
I think as a coach I would feel very bad but beyond that we may be opening
ourselves up to even more serious problems.
Coaching Education
FYSA Coaching Courses
Current information on FYSA coaching courses is posted on the FYSA website (www.fysa.com). From the home page, go
to the “COACHES” tab and when the drop-down menu appears, click on “Coaching Courses”. The Florida Youth Soccer
Association offers a variety of coaching courses. They are:
PPC Clinic
2 hour clinic will include both a player clinic and parent
coach education module. This clinic will focus on age
specific training for the players and parent coach
module in order to provide information on issues
dealing with the various age groups.
6/8, 8/10 and 10/12 Modules
Modules provide age specific training with appropriate
activities for youth players. Each of the three modules
is six hours. Modules may be held in one day or split
over evenings. The minimum age to enroll in a module
is 12 years. The minimum number of coaches needed
to hold a module is 15.
complete and are the only requirement to attend the E
course. The E course is a prerequisite for the D license.
The course focuses on the progression of a training
session. All coaches participate in coaching a field
session with an assigned topic that is evaluated. This
course is 20 hours and spans Friday evening thru
Sunday. The E course will now require at least two
instructors and a two month advance scheduling. The
minimum age is 16 years. The minimum number of
coaches for the E course is 16.
D License
8 hour course is an introductory course to 11 a-side
soccer of players 12years old and up. This course will
include player development philosophies, team
management and the current progression for training
sessions. This course also serves a good foundation for
the following courses. The minimum age to attend is 14
years. The minimum number for the F course is 15.
The D license is the highest state license course for
coaches of players 13 and up. Depending on results of
testing a coach who passes may receive a “D” or “D (r)”
(recommendation to attend National C course after a
one year wait) designation. There is no waiver to attend
the D license course. To attend the D course, a coach
must have held an E license for at least six months. The
D course is usually held over two weekends. The D
course will now require at least two instructors and a
three month advance scheduling. The minimum age is
17 years. The minimum number required to hold a D
course is 24.
E License
Attendance Policy
This course has been recently revised by U.S. Soccer.
There are Pre-Course Assignments posted at
www.fysa.com/assets/942/15/New%20E%20License%2
0Course%20Pre.pdf that must be submitted and verified
before any coach may register for an E course. The PreCourse Assignments take about four to eight hours to
In order to earn a license, a coach must attend the
entire course and pass the exams. In the event a coach
misses part of a course, it is the responsibility of that
coach to attend the missed segment at another course
in order to attain a license.
F Certificate
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How to Host a Coaching Course
The application for an affiliate club or league to host a course is posted at:
www.fysa.com/assets/942/15/How%20to%20Obtain%20a%20Coaching%20Course.pdf
The link above provides the information, procedures and an application to host:
Parent/Player Clinic, Youth Modules (U6/8, U8/10 or U10/12), F Certificate, E License and D License
The Steps to Obtain a Coaching Course:
1.
Download the procedure and application from the link above and then check the FYSA website to see if another course has
been scheduled in your area. If the same course has not been scheduled in your area, mail the “Request for Coaching
Course” form with three potential dates and the appropriate deposit.
2. Course requests for the Parent/Player Clinic, Modules and F course should be submitted at least three weeks in advance.
The E course requires at least two months advance scheduling and the D course requires at least two months advance
scheduling.
3. Approval of requests will be affected by the availability of instructors. A confirmation will be sent to the local course
coordinator and the course will be posted on the FYSA website. Courses are not confirmed by FYSA prior to receipt of the
application and deposit.
4. Provide a facility for the course. A full size field (age appropriate), goals, net, water and soccer balls (suggest each
participate bring their own ball and water) are needed. A classroom with a blackboard, chalk, desk or tables and chairs is
required. Classroom for the E and D courses should be able to hold at least 30 coaches with a screen or suitable wall space
to project a power-point presentation.
5. Unlike the Modules and F course, coaches will register directly for the E and D courses with the FYSA office. FYSA will
update the local course coordinator about the registration count. There will be at least two instructors assigned to each
course. The minimum number of coaches for the E is 16 and 24 for the D course. Two weeks prior to the course, FYSA will
determine if there is a sufficient number coaches registered to hold the course or if it needs to be rescheduled or cancelled.
FYSA will approve E and D courses based on availability of qualified instructors and proximity of other courses to avoid
courses being cancelled due to low numbers.
6. The Youth Modules require age specific players at times as noted the course schedule. This is a requirement of the course.
Failure to do so may negate the ability for the coaches to obtain their certification for the course.
7. A local site coordinator whose duties will include:
 Notify the State Director of Educational Services ten days in advance if the class is to be rescheduled or cancelled.
Failure to do so will result in a fine to the host/club or league. Courses cancelled within 24 hours of starting will
result in forfeiture of the full deposit.
 Work with Director of Educational Services in setting times of the course.
 Notify Director of Educational Services ten days prior of the approximate number of candidates so that the proper
amount of materials are sent to the course.
 Make sure all applications/medical releases are signed by candidates as well as the course roster.
 Coordination as to the usage needs at the facility.
 Mailing of additional fees to the State office at the conclusion of the course.

8. The assignment of an instructor will be determined by the Director of Educational Services. If you would like a specific
instructor, include that request on your form.
23
Module Schedule
9:00am – Noon Lecture-Characteristics
1:00pm – 2:00pm Field-Appropriate Age group
2:00pm – 3:00pm Field-Appropriate Age Group
3:00pm – 4:00pm Summary and Q & A
F Schedule
9:00am - 9:30am Lecture-Course Orientation
9:30am - 10:30am Field-How/when to pass and receive
10:30am - 11:30am Field-How/when to dribble
11:30am - 12:30pm Field-How/when to shoot
1:30pm - 2:45pm Lecture-Methods of Coaching
2:45pm - 3:00pm Lecture-Prevention and Care / Team Management
3:00pm - 4:00pm Field-Principles of defense
4:00pm - 5:00pm Field-principles of attack
E Schedule
Friday
5:30pm - 8:00pm Lecture/Orientation/Methods of Coaching
8:00pm - 9:00pm Lecture/Candidates’ Presentations
Saturday
9:00am - 10:00am Field/Individual Defending and Attacking
10:00am - 11:00am Field/Functional Technique
11:00am - Noon Field/Functional Technique
1:00pm - 2:00pm Lecture/Team Management E Schedule
2:00pm - 3:00pm Lecture/Principles of Play
3:00pm - 6:00pm Field/Candidate Coaching/Review
9:00am - 10:00am Field/Teaching SSG (3v3, 4v4)
10:00am - 11:00am Field/Teaching SSG (5v5, 9v9)
11:00am - Noon Field/Candidate Coaching
1:00pm - 2:00pm Lecture/Review
2:00pm - 3:00pm Lecture/Candidates’ Presentations
3:00pm - 6:00pm Field/Candidate Coaching
National Coaching Schools /Programs –
U. S. Soccer
The U.S. Soccer Federation’s 39-year tradition of certifying
American soccer coaches continues with numerous sessions
scheduled at various locations around the United States.
Designed to meet the changing needs of today’s game, the
National Coaching School offers a complete, nine-day
coaching course in a residential environment that immerses
coaches in the culture of soccer. The course is conducted at
three levels and emphasizes field instruction in the areas of
technique, tactics, and fitness. The course also includes
instruction in coaching methodology, team management, and
sport psychology.
Thousands of coaches have completed U.S. Soccer Federation
coaching schools since they were first developed in 1971.
Courses are directed by a faculty of knowledgeable coaches,
many of whom have coached at the highest levels in the
United States. The objective is to provide all soccer coaches,
from the beginner to the most advanced, with up-to-date
theoretical and practical knowledge, so coaches across the
United States can ensure that players develop to their full
potential.
The U.S. Soccer National Coaching School
Program provides:
1.
D Schedule
Friday (1st weekend)
2.
6:00pm - 7:30pm Lecture-Review of Methods
7:30pm - 9:00pm Field-Instructor Field Sessions
3.
Saturday
9:00am - 10:30am Field-Instructor Field Sessions
10:30am - 12:00pm Field-Practice Coaching
1:30pm - 2:30pm Lecture-Introduction of Game Analysis/Transition
2:30pm - 5:00pm Field-Practice Coaching
Sunday
9:00am - 10:30am Field-Instructor Field Sessions
1:30pm - 5:00pm Field Practice Coaching
Friday (2nd weekend)
6:00pm - 9:00pm Field-Instructor Field Sessions/Practice Coaching
Saturday
1:30pm - 3:00pm Lecture-Course Summary
3:00pm - 4:30pm Oral Exams
Sunday
9:00am - 12:00pm Field-Field Exams
Courses in which coaches can earn nationally
certified credentials and take advantage of the
opportunities and recognition inherent in the
attainment of various levels of coaching expertise.
A proven curriculum which improves a coach’s
knowledge of the game.
Valuable information on current coaching trends and
international developments in the game.
Certification Process
Coaching certification begins at the state level with
introductory courses, which cover the elementary principles
of coaching and prepare interested coaches for the 36-hour
“D” license course. All state licenses are non-expiring.
National “A”, “B” and “C” courses consist of seven days of
instruction and two days of extensive oral, written, and
practical examinations. The “A” License is valid for a period of
four (4) years. “A” Licensed coaches must participate in the
USSF Continuing Education Program (CEP) in order to keep
their license current. The “B” and “C” Licenses are nonexpiring licenses. Coaches with expired “A” Licenses must retake the “A” course and pass the examinations in order to be
awarded the “A” License.
24
Course Details
“C” License
The primary emphasis in the National “C” License course is the close relationship between technique and tactics. In this
course, technique and tactics will be addressed together. In practice field sessions and the final field exam, the
candidate is required to address the impact that technique has on tactics.
Three (3) General Goals of the National “C” License Course:
1. To prepare coaches to better recognize problems and solutions as they occur in the run of play and to
communicate this information to their players,
2. To create rich soccer environments that allow players to grow, and
3. To provide a foundation for any coach wishing to pursue higher levels within U.S. Soccer’s Coaching Education
Program.
The National “C” License course will also provide a foundation in the following areas: tactics, technique, methods of
coaching and issues in youth player development, some of which have been introduced in the “D” License course, and
will be expanded upon in the National “B” and National “A” License courses. These include but are not limited to the
following objectives:
 Observe and identify the technical and tactical demands of the game.
 Focus on the application of technique and small group tactics in games up to 7v7 to big goals.
 Organize, develop and implement appropriate training sessions to correct and reinforce the demands of the
game.
 Recognize soccer problems and offer appropriate technical and tactical guidance to the players.
 Develop a better understanding of the responsibilities of coaching.
“B” License
The National “B” License Course is designed to introduce concepts that are targeting toward coaching players age 16 to
college level. The National “B” License focuses on recognizing the principles of the game and its technical applications in
9v9 game situations. Candidates will learn to teach and implement these principles through functional training sessions
leading up to the 9v9 game. The course will help candidates get a better understanding of the responsibilities of
coaching at advanced levels and will prepare those coaches who wish to pursue the National “A” License.
Key Elements of the National “B” License course:
 Help coaches to observe and identify tactical and technical breakdowns in game situations.
 Learn to develop and implement appropriate training sessions to meet the demands of the game.
“A” License
The National “A” License course is designed to introduce concepts that are targeted toward coaching older players
(older junior level and senior level players). The National “A” License focuses on recognizing the principles of the game
and its technical applications in 11v11 game format and how these principles influence positional, group and team
organization. The course also examines player, team and game management issues as they relate to the senior level
player.
Key Elements of the National “A” License Course:
 Candidates are encouraged to understand the “Four Pillars of the Game”
 (Technical, Tactical, Psychological & Physical) and to devise plans for and effectively improve those areas with
their team
 Candidates are encouraged to explore the variety of methodologies open to them and to solve coaching
problems in the 11v11 game format. This varies in task from team management, game management, and
practice management issues.
 Much attention is given to breaking down the principles of play and the various systems by watching games
played (video analysis) and playing in the games themselves.
25
WAITING PERIOD: There is a mandatory waiting period of at least six (6) months from the E to the D and at least one (1)
year between each level of license (“D” through “A”).
National Coaching Schools / U. S. Youth Soccer Programs
Coaching Courses approved by the USSF, are provided by each of our fifty-five member State Associations. Courses are
available for beginning to the advanced coach- from age appropriate State Youth Coaching Modules to the National “C”
License and the National Youth Certificate Course. For a schedule of National Youth License Courses check the “Coaches”
section of www.usyouthsoccer.org .
U.S. Youth Soccer Workshop and Coaches Convention (Largest youth soccer coaching convention in the U.S.) offers a
wide range of topics for novice to the experienced youth coach. Guest presenters have included Aime Jacquet, Jurgen
Klinsmann, Steve Sampson, April Heinrichs, John Ellinger and Tony DiCicco.
Publications- From coaching books, videos and CD ROMs to free brochures US Youth Soccer has a great selection of
materials for youth soccer programs. Materials available include our “Official Coaching Manual”, the bestselling
“Parent/Coach Primer” and “Assistant Coach Series” to the first CD Rom series specifically for U6-U12 coaches.
Assistance to State Associations and their member leagues and clubs is available from the U.S. Youth Soccer Coaching
Department: State or local Workshop sessions are available for Implementing the Small Sided Game, Recreational
Soccer, Soccer Across America, TOPSoccer, Kohl’s American Cup and more!
For more information on coaching services email nationaloffice@usyouthsoccer.org or call (800) 4SOCCER.
26
Olympic Development Program
FLORIDA YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION
ODP
Mission Statement
The main goal of the Florida Youth Soccer Association Olympic
Development Program is to identify players for our men’s and women’s
Youth National Teams. The selection process takes place through
state, regional and national trials.
The primary benefit to the player is to be able to try out, train, and
play against the best players in their age group. This allows the best
players to be with the best in order to further their development as
soccer players.
Our State Staff is comprised of professional, college, high school,
and club coaches. All of these coaches are nationally licensed by US
Soccer. It is the goal of our staff to conduct these trials in a fair and
impartial manner.
Florida Youth Soccer association encourages all players to try out
through our program. We continue to strive to make this program the
finest in the country.
Purpose of FYSA Olympic Development Program
The main goal of the FYSA ODP is to identify and develop
outstanding soccer players within the state of Florida for selection to
State Teams and for advancement to the Region III Olympic
Development Program and to the National Youth Teams.
Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Identification
Selection
Development
Training
Competition
Evaluation
Overview
The Florida Youth Soccer Association will provide its players the
opportunity to try out, train and compete with players in their respective
age groups in order to find out where they stand with other players
from around the state. The players will initially be selected through twoday trials at the regional level, which will be held in the four regions
around the state (A, B, C, and D). Typically the younger two age
groups are selected in the fall with the older age groups selected in the
spring. ODP applications, sites, and dates can be found in the FYSA
newsletter or on the FYSA website at www.fysa.com.
Players may also be identified through the FYSA Scouting
Program. These players may only be brought in by National Staff
Coaches or by the FYSA Director of Coaching. These players will be
brought into the next level of the process once they have been
identified. This process continues on to the regional and national level.
As players grow older and mature, selection becomes an integral
part to the process throughout the system. In the younger age groups,
the focus is more on development and larger numbers selected since
the ability level and capacity of these players change more rapidly. For
players of all ages the most important factor is continued development.
Any player who plays soccer in the state of Florida is eligible to
participate in the Olympic Development Program. However in order to
participate in State trials you must become a registered player. A
player’s status as a US citizen, non-US citizen, or in the citizenship
process may affect their selection.
Once players are selected at the regional level all the age groups
are brought into state trials to identify pools of players who will
represent Florida as state teams. For the youngest age group we offer
training centers and an in-state developmental camp. For the other age
groups they typically get together twice to finalize the teams and
prepare them for region III camp.
27
Staff
Our state staff is comprised of some of the finest coaches in the state.
All of our coaches are nationally licensed through US Soccer. The
coaches come from the professional, college, high school, and club
ranks. We endeavor to keep this process as fair and impartial as is
possible. Coaches are not to make selections in the age groups in
which they coach a club team. Coaches may not make decisions on
players that they know at the club level. These decisions are deferred
to the other coaches within the group selecting. The coaches do the
regional and state trials on a volunteer basis.
What are the Benefits of Participating in US Youth Soccer ODP?
1. Development as a player. The opportunity to train and play
with the best players in one’s age group.
2. Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches.
3. Quality competition. Games against other state association
ODP teams.
4. Exposure to regional and national team coaches.
5. The opportunity to represent one’s state, region, or country in
competition.
6. Exposure to college coaches.
US Youth Soccer
The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program was formed
in 1977 to identify a pool of players in each age group from which a
National Team will be selected for international competition; to provide
high-level training to benefit and enhance the development of players
at all levels; and, through the use of carefully selected and licensed
coaches, develop a mechanism for the exchange of ideas and
curriculum to improve all levels of coaching. In 1979 the program
expanded, the organization became more efficient and a multi-year
plan was developed. State associations were encouraged to develop
programs which supported and worked in tandem with National and
Regional programs. At the beginning of 1982 a formalized program for
girls was created, with the addition of a full committee. From 1982 until
the present, international events for youth national teams have
increased substantially and the US Youth Soccer Olympic
Development Program has kept pace by instituting trials and player
pools for five age groups in the boys’ program, and five age groups in
the girls’ program.
The ODP Selection Process
Each State Association holds ODP tryouts on an annual basis.
Age Groups and try-out dates may be different from state to state,
based on seasonal and state considerations. The Florida Youth Soccer
Association holds open tryouts each year. Information about tryout
dates, locations and applications are available on the FYSA website
(www.fysa.com). For the 2012-2013 seasonal year, players born in
2000 will be the youngest age group. These tryouts are conducted by
state staff coaches who are recognized for their ability to identify and
train players with superior skills. Players may also be identified through
the FYSA scouting process and invited into the next level of the ODP
process. The state association head coach
or State Coach will be assisted in the selection process by several
other qualified coaches. Players are evaluated on the four components
that make up a soccer player; Technique, Tactics, Fitness and Athletic
Ability, Psychological Component
(attitude). Players selected to a state team are invited to attend
Regional Camp.
Regional Camps
US Youth Soccer is divided into four regions, each which offers a
regional camp for state association ODP teams in each eligible age
group. FYSA state teams attend Region III ODP Camp. Generally,
Region III Camp is held in June/July and is typically located in
Alabama. The camps are designed to provide high level competition
and training for participating players. During this training and
competition, players who are capable of performing at a higher level of
play are identified for possible national team camp, pool, or team
participation. Each region varies somewhat as to the specifics and the
cost of their camps.
Olympic Development Program
National Camp
National Camps and Interregional events are held throughout the year at
various locations in the United States. The National Team Coach or a National
Staff Coach is present at these events to observe, train, and identify players for
placement in the national pool or on a national team.
What are the Benefits of Participating in
US Youth Soccer ODP?
1. Development as a player. The opportunity to train and play with the
best players in one’s age group.
2. Quality instruction from nationally licensed coaches.
3. Quality competition. Games against other state association ODP teams.
4. Exposure to regional and national team coaches.
5. The opportunity to represent one’s state, region, or country in competition.
6. Exposure to college coaches
Training Session
This is intended to be an overview of a typical training session with your team
in each of the age groups. Rule of thumb is to NOT have Lines-Laps-Lectures
as part of your training. The players need to be engaged in activity as much as
possible. Breaks should be often but short. You do not necessary have to do all
the activities in a training session so if one is working keep it up. More detailed
explanations of activities can be found in the US Youth Soccer Coaching Manual
and in the US Youth Soccer Practice Activities for U6/8, U10 and U12. FYSA
also hosts coaching modules where these activities will be demonstrated with
the players. You can go to the FYSA website www.fysa.com for information and
scheduling of these courses.
U6 Training Sessions
Session 1
Body Part Dribble - players are asked to dribble and stop ball with various
parts of their body. Ask them for ideas.
Pretend to be……-As they control the ball ask them to pretend to be various
things, such as an animal or a car. Ask them for ideas.
Session 2
Ball retrieval - individual-coach gathers the balls. Toss them away and have
the players bring them back to the coach. Try various ways (hand, knee, foot,
etc). Once they get comfortable coach may move around.
Can you do this? - coach performs a movement with the ball. Players would
then imitate movement. It is important that they try. Do not expect mastery.
Look for good examples.
Knockout - In a confined area each player with a ball. Players then try to
knock the other players ball out. If a ball goes out they get a task to do then
they are back in.
1v1 to goal - Have players point to which direction they are to go. Toss ball
out and let players go at it. Vary tosses so each player get a chance or you
want to challenge stronger player.
3v3 scrimmage-the game
Red light Green light - Players asked to start and stop the ball on command.
You may want to use hand gestures to make them look up as they dribble
Individual Gate Game - set up gates with cones, players are to dribble
between the cones (gates) How many can they do in 1 minute.
3v3 scrimmage-the game
28
Training Session
U8 Activities
Session 1
Hospital Tag - each player has a ball and is dribbling. If player is tagged
they must touch with their hand the body part that was tagged. If tagged
three times they then go and do a special activity (at hospital) They are then
“healed” and can resume play.
Gate Game - in pairs- set up gates with cones. Players must work together to
pass between the cones (gates). They then go to other gates. How many gates
can they pass the ball thorough in a minute.
U10 Activities
Session 1
Tag game - players dribble trying to tag the other players below the knee
Team Handball - Set up two goals. Players play the game with their hands
trying to score on the other goal. They have three steps once they get the ball,
no taking ball when opponent is in possession, 3 sec rule once they get the ball.
Variation: they can only score with a headed ball
4 goal game - place small goals in the four corners of a field. The pairs of
players then try to score on each of the goals. You can add gate minders or
defenders to make more challenging.
4v4 scrimmage - the game
Session 2
Ball retrieval in pairs - coach gathers ball and tosses them away to pairs of
players. The players then play the balls to one another to get the ball back
to the coach. You can give them the amount of passes required, number of
touches per player, or movement of the coach to make more challenging.
Amoeba tag - one player starts with a ball and tries to tag other players in
a confined area. When a player gets tagged they then get a ball and helps.
Game ends when all players have been tagged. Variations include using no
balls, players may tag or pass a ball into a player to tag them.
Team Knockout - variation of knockout. Set up two teams usually played in
penalty area. Each player on one team has a ball. Their objective is to score
into the goal all of their balls. Their opponent objective is to defend and if they
get a ball is to possess it by inter-passing. Once all balls are scored then roles
reverse. Keep time to see which team scores the fastest.
Scrimmage - the game
Session 2
Ball Retrieval in groups - Coach gathers balls. Coach then tosses balls out to
play for them to return to coach. Restrictions: Each players must touch the ball,
certain number of passes, coach can move around.
Capture the ball - just like capture the flag. Each team is given a side of the
field. Their ball is placed on their end of the field. The objective is to get your
opponents ball to your side of the field under control. If a player is tagged on
their opponents side of field they are placed in “jail” until tagged by one of their
teammates.
Hungry Hippo - just like the popular board game. Set up zones in four corners
of the field. All balls placed in the center. Objective is to get the balls back into
your own zone. Players may take balls from other players’ zone. Game ends
with a time limit and the players with the most balls in their zone wins.
2v2 to goal - players play in pairs. Goals on either end of field. Coach tosses
ball to one team and the game is on. When the ball goes out a new pair of
players enters.
4v4 scrimmage - the game
29
Inside finishing - a ball retrieval type of game. Players hand the ball to coach.
He then tosses a various angles. Players must control the ball and score on
the goal. Variation: players must score with first touch. This allows for more
finishing than the standard stand in line and wait for you turn to shoot.
Training Session
U12 Activities
Session 1
Sequence passing - Number players off. Players then pass in sequence 1 to 2
to … to 1. Emphasis on vision of passers and positioning of support player.
Possession game - Set two teams in a confined area. 3 to 5 consecutive
passes scores a point.
Game to endline - transition passing game to a direction. Players score by
stopping ball dead on the end line
Session 2
Over under - Group dynamic game. Team A kicks a ball away. Team B
collects the ball and forms a line. Team B then passes the ball alternating over
their head and between their legs. Team A during this time consolidates as
a group and one runner runs around the outside of the group counting how
many times they are able to get around before Team B accomplishes their task.
Then Team A kicks the ball away and they reverse roles.
Line passing - Two groups in a line pass the ball between each other. When a
player passes to the other line they go to the end of the opposite line. When a
bad pass is made both lines must move to get to the ball in order to restart the
activity. Variations: one touch or two touch passing.
Training Players U13 and Older
Coaches should organize their practice session in a progressive manner that
provides for individual, small group, large group and/or team activities. An
example of a practice format would be:
Technical Warm-Up
• without pressure of opponent
• pressure from the ball and imposed demands
• should utilize techniques that will be needed for the topic
Small Sided Activities
• introduce pressure from opponent
• some aspects of pressure may be contrived
• does not need to be directional, but may be directional
• should have transition
• technical execution should be observed and addressed as appropriate
Expanded Small Sided Activities
• larger numbers at least 5V5 (closer to the “Big Picture”)
• may have special conditions
• must have direction and transition
• may be over the line, to targets, to small goals or to large goals
• if large goals are used, offside should be enforced
• tactical execution should be observed and addressed as appropriate
Match Condition – “The Game”
• 7v7 including keepers in large goals
• no special conditions
• tactical issues addressed as needed with the understanding that there
should be no freezes at this stage
•players need time to develop a rhythm and the coaches observation at this
stage are more important for planning future practice sessions.
Cool Down - Light jog and stretching.
Target game inside out - three teams-two in and one out. Two teams inside
play a possession game. Players on outside station themselves on the outside
of the area and support the players on the inside. They are allowed one touch
passing on the outside. Rotate teams.
Counter goal game - before scrimmaging instead of going to two goals set up
two small goals wide on the endline opposite the one goal. Since many of us
only have half a field and one large goal to train on this allows us to deal with
getting width to get forward.
30
EFFECTIVE
PLAYING
TIME
RELATIVE
TO
GAME
FORMAT
Relative
Playing
AND
ROSTER
SIZE Time to Game Format
0% playing time is recommended.
Table provided by Dr. Thomas Turner
Single
Game
Roster
Size >
Game
Format
Game
Duration
3v3
(U-5/6)
4x8
100% 75%
60%
50%
min.
32 min 24 min 19 min 16 min
quarters
4v4
(U-7/8)
4 x 12
min.
quarters
5v5
(U-7/8)
4 x 12
min.
quarters
6v6
(U-9/10)
2 x 25
min.
halves
8v8
(U-11/12)
2 x 30
min.
halves
Split
Game
Roster
Size >
Game
Format
Game
Duration
3v3
(U-5/6)
Split
4x8
min.
quarters
4v4
(U-7/8)
Split
4 x 12
min.
quarters
5v5
(U-7/8)
Split
4 x 12
min.
quarters
6v6
(U-9/10)
Split
2 x 25
min.
halves
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
17
18
66%
57%
50%
100% 80%
48 min 38 min 32 min 27 min 24 min
62%
55%
50%
100% 83%
71%
48 min 40 min 34 min 30 min 26 min 24 min
100% 85%
75%
66%
60%
54%
50%
50 min 42 min 37 min 33 min 30 min 27 min 25 min
100% 88%
80%
72%
66%
61%
57%
53%
50%
60 min 53 min 48 min 43 min 40 min 36 min 34 min 32 min 30 min
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
66%
60%
54%
50%
100% 85%
75%
31 FYSA COACHES HANDBOOK 2012 - 2013
66%
61%
57%
53%
50%
100% 88%
80%
72%
66%
62%
58%
55%
100% 90%
83%
76%
71%
66%
100%
92%
85%
80%
75%
70%
US Youth Soccer Small Sided
Game Recommendations
ADVANTAGES OF PLAYING SMALL SIDED GAMES
• More time with the coach
• Energetic workouts due to playing both offense and defense
• More efficient use of field space
• Matches can be played simultaneously across a full size field
• Children are physically more efficient in smaller space
• Children are actively involved for a longer period of time
• It takes less time to score a goal or advance to goal
• Greater success rate for the players
US Youth Soccer Recommendations
• Opposing coaches, players and parents should shake hands after each match.
• Parent/coaches, non-participating players and spectators should be there to
enjoy and encourage the activity of the youngsters.
• Spectator and team benches should be on opposite sides of the field.
• No alcoholic beverages or tobacco products will be consumed or allowed near the playing area.
• Coaches of U12 teams should attend the U10/U12 Youth Module coaching course and the Grade 9 referee
32
Coaching Resources
CLUB
The primary resource for a coach is his club. It is important to know who the individuals are that administer the
club. Every club will not have the exact same structure. A coach should compile a directory for use as needed.
Some of the possible titles are:
Club President
name______________________ phone________________________
Club Registrar
name______________________ phone________________________
Age Group Coordinator
name______________________ phone________________________
Director of Coaching
name______________________ phone________________________
FLORIDA YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION (FYSA)
The FYSA is the state organization. Clubs and leagues are affiliate members
of the FYSA. There are districts in FYSA that are administered by District Commissioners. The state is also divided into four regions that are administered by
Regional Vice Presidents. A list of state officials is posted on the FYSA website.
Information about state sponsored events such as tournaments, coaching courses
and ODP are posted on the FYSA website or by phone at 407 852-6770.
Website: www.fysa.com
US YOUTH SOCCER
The Florida Youth Soccer Association is a member of U. S. Youth Soccer, the
organizations that governs youth soccer on a national level. U. S. Youth Soccer
maintains a website and can be reached by phone at 1-800-4-SOCCER.
Website: www.usyouthsoccer.org
U S Youth Soccer Coaches Connection
Benefits include:
• Subscription to Success in Soccer Magazine
• US Youth Soccer’s Kwik Kicks monthly e-newsletter
• Official “Coaches Connection” member T-shirt from adidas
• Choice of one US Youth Soccer educational DVD
• Discounted admission to special Connection clinics and events
• Discounts on coaching aids from Success in Soccer
To join the Coaches Connection, go to: www.usyouthsoccer.org/coaches/
Coaches_Connection.asp
Modified Laws of the Game for Small Sided Games
To download Modified Laws of the Game for Small Sided Games, go to:
www.usyouthsoccer.org/coaches/smallsidedgames.asp
US SOCCER
The Florida Youth Soccer Association is a member of U. S. Soccer, the national
governing body of soccer. U. S. Soccer maintains a website with information
about national programs and can be reached by phone at 312 808-1300.
Website: www.ussoccer.com
33
US Soccer CoachesNet
Benefits include:
• Nike t-shirt
• Coaches notebook
• U.S. Soccer decal and pin
• Reduced rates on USSF National Coaching Schools
• Receive credits of $10 per year of paid membership which may be used
towards the purchase of attendance at a USSF National Coaching school
• Discounts on coaching symposiums
• Special pre-sale US Soccer ticket options
• Exclusive voting for ussoccer.com’s ‘Athletes of the Year’
• Automatic registration into U.S. Soccer Fan
• Personalized membership card
• Special offers from Kwik Goal
• Liability Insurance Policy
• Reduced subscription rate on ‘Success in Soccer’ magazine
• Free admission to the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum
To join U S Soccer CoachesNet, go to: http://www.ussoccer.com/Coaches/
CoachesNet.aspx
Best Practices for Coaching Soccer in the United States
U.S. Soccer’s Coaching Education Department has released a new publication
designed to give youth and junior level soccer coaches in the United States a set
of fundamental tools to help open up the game of soccer to young players in ways
that celebrate the sport’s spontaneous qualities. The 70-page “Best Practices for
Coaching Soccer in the United States” coaching book serves as the sport’s definitive new player development guidelines and is available now as a free download
at ussoccer.com.
To download “Best Practices”, go to: http://www.ussoccer.com/Coaches/
Resources.aspx
Coaching Resources
The US Soccer Curriculum
The U.S. Soccer coaching curriculum is another major step in the implementation of the framework developed by the Player Development Task Force, which
was created in 2006 to review all aspects of player development in the United
States and recommend a course of action.
To download “The U. S. Soccer Curriculum”, go to: http://resources.ussoccer.
com/n7v8b8j3/cds/downloads/Full%20U.S.%20Soccer%20Coaching%20
Curriculum.pdf
FEDERATION INTERNATIONAL DE FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATION
This is the international governing body of soccer. U. S. Soccer is an affiliate
member. Information on international competition can be obtained on the
website. Website: www.fifa.com
Laws of the Game
To download a PDF copy of “FIFA Laws of the Game”, go to: http://www.fifa.
com/worldfootball/lawsofthegame/index.html
NATIONAL SOCCER COACHES ASSOCIATION OF
AMERICA (NSCAA)
The NSCAA is a national organization for soccer coaches who are coaching
at all levels, young children to the pros. They host a convention each year that
provides top clinicians from around the world and membership includes a
subscription to Soccer Journal, a bi-monthly magazine. The NSCAA maintains
a website and their phone number is 1-800-458-0678. Website: www.nscaa.
comLaws of the Game
OTHER WEBSITES
PUBLICATIONS
Available thru United States Soccer Federation: http://ussoccerstore.com/
• Soccer How To Play The Game
Available thru United States Youth Soccer:
http://store.usyouthsoccer.org/
• Official US Youth Soccer Coaching Manual
• Youth Soccer Parent/Coach Primer: Basic Philosophy & Techniques of
Coaching Young Players
• Assistant Coach Series - U6/8 Activity Aids for the Parent/Coach
• Assistant Coach Series - U10 Activity Aids for the Parent/Coach
• Assistant Coach Series - U12 Activity Aids for the Parent/Coach
• The Novice Coach: An Introduction to Coaching Youth Soccer DVD Two-Disc Set
• Positive Parenting for Youth Soccer DVD
Available through National Coaches Association of America:
www.nscaa.com
• Soccer Journal - bi-monthly magazine
• Coaching Soccer
Other Recommended Publications:
The Baffled Parents Guide to Great Soccer Drills by Fleck & Quinn
From Chump to Champ by Benzel
Whose Game is it, Anyway? by Ginsburg, Durant & Baltzell
The Power of Play by Elkind
The Cheers and the Tears by Murphy
Just Let the Kids Play by Bigelow, Moroney & Hall
Revolution in the Bleachers by McMahon
Game On by Farrey
The books listed above and other soccer related publications and products can be
located at amazon.com, Soccer Learning Systems (800 762-2376) or Reedswain
(800 331-5191).
United State Olympic Committee: www.usoc.org
Women’s Professional Soccer (pro): www.womensprosoccer.com
Major League Soccer (pro): www.mlsnet.com
United Soccer Leagues (pro & amateur): www.uslsoccer.com
Growing Champions for Life: growingchampionsforlife.com
Soccer T.V. Listings: www.soccerTV.com
American Academy of Pediatricians: www.aap.org
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: www.aaos.org
American College of Sports Medicine: www.acsm.org
Physical Education Links: www.pelinks4u.org
National Alliance for Youth Sports: www.nays.org
Institute for the Study of Youth Sports: ed-web3.educ.msu.edu/ysi/
National Youth Sports Safety Foundation: www.nyssf.org/wframeset.html
Youth Sports Parenting: www.momsteam.com
Center for Sports Parenting: www.sportsparenting.org/csp/
Citizenship Through Sports Alliance: www.sportsmanship.org/
Give Us Back Our Game: www.giveusbackourgame.co.uk
34
Informed Consent about Concussions or Head Injuries
Effective July 1, 2012 Florida Statute 943.0438, requires the parent or guardian and the youth who is
participating in athletic competition or who is a candidate for an athletic team to sign and return an
informed consent that explains the nature and risk of concussion and head injury, including the risk of
continuing to play after a concussion or head injury, each year before participating in athletic
competition or engaging in any practice, tryout, workout, or other physical activity associated with the
youth's candidacy for an athletic team.
The Facts:
 A concussion is a brain injury.
 All concussions are serious.
 Concussions can occur without loss of consciousness.
 Concussions can occur in any sport.
 Recognition and proper management of concussion when they first occur can help prevent
further injury or even death.
What is a concussion? A concussion is an injury that changes how the cells in the brain normally work. A
concussion is caused by a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the
skull. Even a “ding”,‖”getting your bell rung”, or what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can
be serious. Concussions can also result from a fall or from players colliding with each other or with
obstacles, such as a goalpost, even if they do not directly hit their head.
To help recognize a concussion, you should watch for the following two things among your athletes:
1. A forceful blow to the head or body that results in rapid movement of the head. -and2. Any change in the athlete’s behavior, thinking, or physical functioning.
3. Signs and symptoms of concussion that may be reported by a coach or other observer:
 Appears dazed or stunned
 Is confused about assignment or position
 Forgets sports plays
 Is unsure of game, score or opponent
 Moves clumsily
 Answers questions slowly
 Loses consciousness (even briefly)
 Can’t recall events prior to hit or fall
4. Signs and symptoms that may be reported by the player:
 Headache or ―pressure‖ in head
 Nausea or vomiting
 Balance problems or dizziness
 Double or blurry vision
 Sensitivity to light
 Sensitivity to noise
 Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
 Concentration or memory problems
3ϱ
 Confusion
 Does not ―feel right‖
Both parents/guardians and players are advised to take the Center for Disease Control’s free online
concussion training at http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/HeadsUp/Training/HeadsUpConcussion.html .
Under Florida law this player who has a suspected concussion or head injury must be removed from play
or practice. Before the player may return to practice or competition a written medical clearance to
return stating that the youth athlete no longer exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a
concussion or other head injury must be received from an appropriate health care professional trained
in the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of concussions. In Florida, an appropriate health-care
professional (AHCP) is defined as either a licensed physician (MD, as per Chapter 458, Florida Statutes), a
licensed osteopathic physician (DO, as per Chapter 459, Florida Statutes), a licensed physicians assistant
under the supervision of a MD/DO (as per Chapters 458.347 and 459.022, Florida Statutes) or a health
care professional trained in the management of concussions.
I have read and understand this consent form, and I volunteer to participate.
Player Name: ________________________________________________________________________
Signature: ______________________________________________
Date: ___________________
As parent or guardian, I have read and understand this consent form and I give permission for my child,
named above, to participate.
Parent/Legal Guardian Name: ___________________________________________________________
Signature: ______________________________________________
Date: ___________________
3ϲ
Possible Concussion or Head Injury Notification
In accordance with Florida Statute 943.0438, this is notify you that today,
, 20__, at the ______________________, _______________________ received a
possible concussion or head injury during practice or competition. Under Florida law this player must be
removed from play or practice. Before the player may return to practice or competition a written
medical clearance to return stating that the youth athlete no longer exhibits signs, symptoms, or
behaviors consistent with a concussion or other head injury must be received from an appropriate
health care professional trained in the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of concussions. In
Florida, an appropriate health-care professional (AHCP) is defined as either a licensed physician (MD, as
per Chapter 458, Florida Statutes), a licensed osteopathic physician (DO, as per Chapter 459, Florida
Statutes), a licensed physicians assistant under the supervision of a MD/DO (as per Chapters 458.347
and 459.022, Florida Statutes) or a health care professional trained in the management of concussions.
Symptoms that were observed are checked below:
__ Dazed look or confusion about what happened
__ Memory difficulties
__ Neck pain, headaches, nausea, vomiting, double vision, blurriness, ringing noise or sensitive to
sounds
__ Short attention span - Can’t keep focused
__ Slow reaction time, slurred speech, bodily movements are lagging, fatigue and slowly answers
questions or has difficulty answering questions
__ Abnormal physical and/or mental behavior
__ Coordination skills are behind, ex: balancing, dizziness, clumsiness, reaction time
Other ________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Please take the necessary precautions and seek an appropriate medical professional. Until a professional
medical opinion is provided, please consider the following guidelines:


refrain from participation in any activities the day of, and the day after, the occurrence
refrain from taking any medicine unless (1) current medicine, prescribed or authorized,
is permitted to be continued to be taken, and (2) any other medicine is prescribed by a
licensed health care professional
Player Signature: _________________________________________
Date: ____________
Parent/Legal Guardian Signature: ____________________________
Date: ____________
Team Official Signature: ____________________________________
Date: ____________
39
© 2012 Publix Asset Management Company.
The perfect meal when life revolves
around this kind of clock.
As a proud partner of the Florida Youth Soccer Association, Publix believes in teamwork,
good sportsmanship and, most importantly, a good meal. Deep marinated and slow-cooked,
Publix Deli Rotisserie Chicken comes in a variety of flavors and is prepared fresh throughout
the day. Stop by your neighborhood Publix any night and pick one up,
so you can spend more time with the family and less in the kitchen.
Job No F0104
Client Publix
Pub None
Placed Graphics
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PublixStopwatch-00052_FA9_CMYK.tif . . . . . . . . . . . CMYK 465 ppi
newFYSALogo.eps
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P u b l i x® WSIAP®-CMYK.eps
Ad Code -
Ad Caption The perfect meal
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Printed At 92.22%
Built At 1" = 1" (100%)
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Info —
Ad Size -
Trim 10.125" x 14.125"
File Name F0104_YouthSoccerStopWatch_mech.indd
Writer
Art Director
Tim Koebbe
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5-4-2012 3:40 PM
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FYSA Coaching Manual

Transcription

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